Timeline by

The Start of the Digital Age: The Calculator!

kir2171741 — 2025-09-08 21:28:38 UTC

The handheld calculator was created in 1972 and quickly spread to classrooms, giving students access to quick problem-solving. At the time educators were divided, with some concerned that calculators would erode basic math skills, while others saw them as a tool for teaching more complex, real-world problems.

Grading made fast: The Scantron

kir2171741 — 2025-09-08 21:34:05 UTC

When the scantron was introduced in 1972, testing was suddenly just about filling in the bubble correctly. According to my mom, both students and teachers alike enjoyed the simplicity of the system.

Seeing the full picture: Digital Projectors

kir2171741 — 2025-09-08 21:41:04 UTC

In conjunction with the computer, projectors allowed teachers to share digital media with the whole class. According to my cousin, she was just as excited to see a movie on the projector as she was to see it on the giant metal cart they would only bring out on holidays.

WWW dot... wait it wont load?!

kir2171741 — 2025-09-08 21:44:40 UTC

In the 1990s, computers were introduced, and information was a click away... or is it? With all internet access to the World Wide Web being dial-up, my cousin struggled to carve out the time to wait for answers online.

Giving CD's a spin

kir2171741 — 2025-09-08 21:50:16 UTC

With a CD, an entire Thesaurus could be saved on a disc the size of your palm. Though some teachers may still use them today, most opt for E-Books. In the context of a classroom, they were used mostly to show videos on a projector.