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Invented a method of printing with movable metal type, which allowed for faster, cheaper reproduction of texts than the previous methods (like hand copying or woodblock printing).

Through the invention of the printing press, teachers were able to utilize paper products more frequently, transforming the landscape of education.

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Late 18th Century- Early 20th Century: Industrial Revolution

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Late 18th Century- Early 20th Century: Industrial Revolution

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The Industrial Revolution (mid-1700s to mid-1800s) was a period of major economic, technological, and social change. It began in Britain and spread to Europe, North America, and beyond. It marked the shift from agrarian economies to ones dominated by industry, mechanization, and urbanization.

Due to the Industrial Revolution, numerous changes occurred in society and technology, ultimately advancing education.

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The Industrial Revolution: Crash Course European History #24

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Morse code is a system for encoding letters, numbers, punctuation, and special signals using short signals (“dots”) and long signals (“dashes”), along with spaces between them.

Through the use of improved long-distance communication, vital information can be spread more easily, helping teachers across the nation.

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Alexander Graham Bell (1847–1922) was a Scottish-born inventor, scientist, and teacher of the deaf. He is best known for inventing and patenting the telephone in 1876. Beyond that, he made significant contributions to advancements in communication for the deaf, aeronautics, and hydrofoils. Bell co-founded the company that became AT&T, and his work significantly shaped modern communication technology.

Due to the invention of the telephone, smartphones and similar devices were eventually developed, which are now used on a daily basis by teachers.

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Introduced the New Deal, a series of programs and reforms aimed at economic recovery.

Guided the U.S. through most of WWII, from the attack on Pearl Harbor (1941) until his death in 1945. Strengthened U.S. alliances, worked closely with Churchill and Stalin.

Expanded the role of the federal government in the economy. Advocated for the "Four Freedoms": freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.

FDR helped create a more economically stable nation, which in turn created more job opportunities, thereby requiring more teachers.

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The term "Artificial Intelligence" was coined in 1956 at the Dartmouth Conference. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that focuses on creating systems capable of performing tasks requiring human-like intelligence, such as reasoning, learning, problem-solving, and understanding language.

AI has both positively and negatively impacted education. It has created both challenges and opportunities for both teachers and students alike.

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A conversational AI system that listens, learns, and challenges

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Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. Its successful launch marked the start of the Space Age and the U.S.–Soviet space race.

Because of Sputnik, opportunities for more and better satellites were available, helping with the overall advancement in communication technology (such as smartphones and the internet), including within school systems.

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Social media refers to online platforms that allow users to create, share, and interact with content and communities. It has become central to communication, news, entertainment, and commerce worldwide.

Social media has transformed education by expanding access to resources, fostering collaboration, and making learning more engaging, while also presenting challenges such as distraction, misinformation, and unequal access.

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Open Educational Resources (OER) are teaching, learning, and research materials that are freely available in the public domain or under an open license (such as Creative Commons). This allows anyone to use, adapt, and share them at no cost.

Open Educational Resources (OER) have impacted education by lowering costs for students, expanding access to free learning materials, and encouraging collaboration and customization in teaching. They have shifted their approach to learning toward openness and flexibility, although challenges such as quality control and unequal digital access persist.

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Open Author helps you build and publish Open Educational Resources for you and for the benefit of educators and learners everywhere.

Learn more about creating OER

Groups provides a flexible environment to organize, create, share, and discuss resources with others in your network. Collaborate with group members, tag and add resources to shared folders, create your own collections, all within a public or private group.

Groups

Search through collections curated by our digital librarians

Collections

Common Core resources organized for your needs

Common Core

Hubs

A Custom Resource Center

Projects, districts, states, and initiatives make use of Hubs to bring groups of educators together to create, organize, and share OER collections that meet their common goals. Explore Hubs

Microsites

Custom Digital Libraries

Microsites are custom, flexible sites that include all the features available on OER Commons. Microsites allow your users to search resource collections using a custom taxonomy at a unique URL. Contact Us

Our award-winning OER Professional Learning programs support instructors and curriculum specialists to gain the necessary skills required to find, adapt, and evaluate high quality open materials.

In-person and virtual OER workshops help focus instructors to develop a "commons" mindset, to experience the benefits of open processes using the platform's tools, collaborative features, and workflows. This can include using Open Author for creating, remixing, and publishing shared curriculum.

Learn More

How to Search OER Commons

View all How-to videos

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OER Commons is a dynamic digital library and network. Explore open education resources and join our network of educators dedicated to curriculum improvement.

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A podcast is a series of digital audio (and sometimes video) episodes that users can download or stream on demand, often following a theme such as news, education, storytelling, or entertainment.

Podcasts have influenced education by providing flexible, on-demand learning, supporting diverse teaching methods, and allowing students to learn at any time, although they also require strong self-motivation and access to technology.

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Battling Mental Health ft. Judah Smith (EP 138)

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A flipped classroom is a teaching model where students learn new material before class (through videos, readings, or online modules) and then use class time for active learning, such as problem-solving, discussions, or projects.

The flipped classroom has revolutionized education by relocating lectures outside the classroom and utilizing class time for active learning, which fosters deeper understanding and personalized support, but requires careful preparation and access to technology.

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Have you participated in a "Flipped Classroom"?

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Virtual Reality (VR) is a computer-generated simulation that immerses users in a three-dimensional, interactive environment, typically experienced through a headset and sometimes motion-tracking controllers or sensors.

Virtual reality (VR) has significantly impacted education by creating immersive, hands-on learning experiences that enhance engagement and understanding, particularly in fields such as science, medicine, and engineering. However, cost and accessibility remain significant challenges.

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COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, first identified in Wuhan, China, in late 2019. It led to a global pandemic declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020.

COVID-19 transformed education by accelerating the shift to online learning, pushing teachers to adopt digital tools, and highlighting issues of access and equity, while also encouraging new flexible and hybrid teaching practices.