School Technology Timeline by Grace Hartman

I mean you cant mess this up, right?...

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 03:21:04 UTC

"In the 60's we did get spirographs in my art class and that was an addition to schools that expanded and pushed me to become more creative at a younger age. Spirographs were also fun and showed a different side of art that was easy and looked intricate. I feel like it enhanced my learning experience by showing how different tools could be so simple looking, while still being used to create such different effects of art.. Since art was such a big part of my life and had a big impact on our family, I still feel like it was a pivotal part of my development." Although not a stereotypical form of "technology", this tool was a big part of schools at the time. The spirograph was a geometric drawing device where you would put your pencil or pen on a certain point and move the geometric gears along with it. This tool would create endless different designs and open young minds to new art techniques.

Does anyone smell that? Are we using the projector again today?

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 03:24:51 UTC

"I remember being in school in the early '90s and having the old school overhead projectors in certain classrooms. Those were raved about at my school, and I still miss the distinctive, unusual smell of them. I feel like the projector had enhanced my learning experience in different ways. It created an easier way to visualize what was being taught and made it so the people in the back didn't have to squint the entire class hour trying to figure out what it said on the chalkboard. It was more interactive for us students." These projectors were used by having a plastic sheet or paper ontop of the lit up bottom and displayed whatever writing was on it. Teachers often had a plastic sheet and an expo marker to teach lessons to classes.

Learning or nap time, I can never decide.

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 03:35:22 UTC

“In school, we used VHS tapes in our lessons for more like interactive and visual addition. Movie hour in my elementary school was always what I looked forward to. I liked VHS the most because I loved watching movies/videos in class, and it gave a different path to learning and teaching that was more entertaining." VHS tapes were often used on a box tv that was held up on a cart, this technology was used frequently until around the 2010's. Lessons or movies were inserted and displayed on this TV and could be moved wherever needed.

Atleast you can erase your mistakes now!

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 04:43:16 UTC

When the word "technology" is brought up in terms of school usage, your mind wouldn't most likely jump to chalkboards, but the invention of chalkboards was the a very influential tool in the education system. This creation was invented in 1801 due to paper and pencil being too expensive and uncommon for most children. This allowed for students to practice their teaching while still being able to erase their work/errors and also was a pivotal tool for teachers to educate their students visually. "Chalkboards were very prevalent in our classrooms and I can still remember the feeling of dryness the chalk gave my hands after using it so frequently".

Is it cheating or am I utilizing my recourses?

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 04:56:23 UTC

With handheld calculators being produced in 1970, the skepticism around the usage in schools was prevalent. Having technology that was able to do any quick math needed was a huge upgrade in the education system. By inputting whatever calculations you can think of, the answer was right at your fingertips. As time went on, technology advanced and was able to make calculators more high-tech by adding screens and some finding ways to even program games into them. Calculators have been a form of technology that has altered our ways of math and problem-solving, and will always be a reliable tool in schools.

iPad this, iPad that, but what did tablets really add to classroom environments?

gra2176638 — 2025-08-29 06:10:35 UTC

As tablets started to emerge in 2010, this type of technology became influential in classroom environments. As younger generations became drawn to these screens, the usage in classrooms began to increase. As most schools up until 2019 (Covid-19) chose to keep school technology in classes, iPads/tablets were commonly used among students for research and to track assignments. Educational apps and different learning tools were easily accessible and manageable by educators and administration. This demand is now seen to have increased outside of schools, and younger generations are known for having some sort of tablet at their fingertips.