History of Educational Technology and ICT Revolution

Content

This lesson tackles about the history and ICT revolution which takes us out from our curiosity to where educational technology came from. This lesson would also trace the people and the dates involved in its history and its revolution.

Educational technology in way could be traced back to the emergence of very early tools, e.g., paintings on cave walls. But usually its history is made to start with educational film (1900's) or Sidney Pressey's mechanical teaching machines in the 1920. Skinners work led to "programmed instruction" focusing on the formulation of behavioral objectives, breaking instructional content into small units and rewarding correct responses early and often. Advocating a mastery approach to learning based on his taxonomy of intellectual behaviors, Bloom endorsed instructional techniques that varied both instruction and time according to learner requirements. Models based on these designs were usually referred to as computer-based training" (CBT), Computer-aided instruction or computer-assisted instruction (CAI) in the 1970's through the 1990's. In addition to classroom enhancement, learning technologies also play a major role in full-time distance teaching. While most quality offers still rely on paper, videos and occasional CBT/CBL materials, there is increased use of e-tutoring through forums, instant messaging, video-conferencing etc.

The 2000's emergence of multiple mobile and ubiquitous technologies gave a new impulse to situated learning theories favoring learning-in-context scenarios. Some literature uses the concept of integrated learning to describe blended learning scenarios that integrate both school and authentic (e.g., workplace) settings.

           

Revolution 1: The Computer

The first revolution started during World War II, with the first large, automatic, general electromechanical calculator, Harvard Mark 1. “Computers” became a new catchword, and input-output technology graduated from punch cards to magnetic tape, faster printers, and more languages for programming. Applications also were expanded, from use in academic

research to weather forecasting, from airline ticketing to accounting. This development continues; the first ICT revolution is still under way.

Revolution 2: The PC

The second ICT revolution has its roots in the 1970s, when the first “processors on a chip” and magnetic discs were constructed. But as late as 1977, Ken Olson, the legendary president of the computer company, Digital, stated: “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” He was definitely wrong. In the same year, Steve Jobs and Steve Wosniak started to sell their Apple II, and Bill Gates and Paul Allen had already founded a firm called Microsoft. This second ICT revolution continues like the first: the capacities of the machines increase, their applications expand, and the number of people who use them multiplies.

Revolution 3: The Microprocessor

The third ICT revolution is that microprocessors have become embedded in an ever-widening range of products: the steering systems of airplanes, the control panels of hydroelectric power stations, domestic air conditioning systems, the traffic lights in our streets.

Revolution 4: The Internet

The fourth ICT revolution stretches back to the late 1960s,when the U.S. Department of Defense drew up guidelines for a communication network among computers (ARPANET). After a while, universities in and outside the United States were hooked up to it, and some started to use it to send messages.  This fourth ICT revolution continues like the others as more and more computers are interlinked with an ever-growing number of “servers” and an expanding range of applications.

Revolution 5: Wireless Links

The fifth ICT revolution was linking without lines—the new possibilities opened by mobile phones. At first, they were big and bulky. Reduction in size and weight was accompanied by expansion of reach and functions, and miniaturization was accompanied by multifunctionality. Mobile phones could be used not just for talking, but also to exchange messages, receive news or stock exchange quotes, review restaurants, or order movie tickets. Linking without lines now takes place not just intercontinentally via satellites, but also via high frequency short-range radio transmitters.

Experience

            I didn’t know not until I had a computer class that I’ve been using the oldest kind of computer and that was the abacus which in my time was already used as a toy. And I myself also experienced the ICT revolution from my mobile phones with antenna to android phones, personal computers to laptop and tablets, from Bluetooth to shareit and different sharing applications. There is indeed a big difference and ofcourse the great difference and revolution was used for the better.

Reflection

            The impact of ICT revolution is really great. It helps not just the economy of a certain country but it also has a great effect in the education settings. When I traced back its history with this lesson, all I could say is that the ICT revolution is fast-pacing. With the help of brilliant minds of the creators, they produce the newest, latest and hi-tech version of their own products which makes me a little bit scared if I could be able to go with the trend. But as a future teacher, I must cope up with the changes.

Application

            Everything today functions because of technology. In the educational setting, it serves as an aid to teachers as well as to the students in the teaching-learning process to occur effectively. With technology, everything you wanted to know and to do is on hand and is just one click away. It makes everything easier and faster with no questions on its quality. Tracing back its history would help both the teacher and students to appreciate its revolution and widen their knowledge.