Everybody knows that technology has played an important role in the classroom, providing students with all kinds of exciting opportunities to enhance their learning.
However, what is the historical use of technology in education?
How did we reach the point where software solutions such as Intellischool became available for classroom learning the world over?
The Timeline of Educational Technology
Technology in schools has evolved exponentially over the course of decades.
In the 1860s, teachers would use blackboards to engage multiple students in their one-room schoolhouse and promote their learning.
In the 1920s, the radio made it possible for educators to broadcast their lessons over the airwaves for students to access using primitive radio technology.
In the 1930s, the overhead projector was an early instance of technology used in classrooms to display images for students for the sake of their education.
In the 1940s, film began to circulate more and more than in its origins in the 1910s-20s. This meant that educational films could be produced and screened in classrooms.
In the 1950s:
televisions were used to televise university classes (starting with the University of House in 1953) to provide more comprehensive education and learning to those that could not attend physical classes.
videotapes were invented, so that substitute teachers could wheel in an old TV and play a movie for the students as their lesson plan.
The 1960s led to:
The whiteboard replacing the blackboard as the classroom display method of choice.
The BASIC programming language which was used to teach students the fundamentals of computer programming education.
The 1970s led to
The use of Scantrons which made the conducting of standardised tests easier by allowing for student answers to be scanned and scored into a computer using specially designed testing sheets.
The Handheld Calculator, which made classroom mathematics easier for everyone.
The Apple 1, the first computer that Apple Inc donated to schools for educational purposes
The 1980s led to companies like IBM and the BBC introducing their own portable computers for use in the classroom.
The 1990s led to:
The internet becoming available to students in the classroom, making research a lot easier while also facilitating what would eventually become the widespread online learning platforms that students rely on these days.
The introduction of the Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), a mobile device that functioned as a personal information manager for teachers and administrative staff.
The 2000s led to:
The first learning management system (LMS), which set a precedent that Intellischool would later improve upon and perfect.
The rise of social media, which gave students new ways to interact, boosting their social skills.
The 2010s led to:
The introduction of tablet PCs such as iPads and Samsung Tabs, which would later be embraced in the classroom for how powerful and portable they are.
The use of electronic whiteboards to give even more functionality to the classic whiteboard.
The 2020s are leading to:
The emergence of online conferencing platforms that allow students and teachers to interact online outside of the classroom when they’re not learning.
The rise of virtual reality, for which developers are working on a wide range of software solutions to provide simulated classrooms as well as virtual field trips.
What kinds of technology impact student learning?
Portable Computers (i.e. laptops, tablets, etc.)
Student learning has benefited greatly from the advent of computer technology becoming readily available in the classroom. There is a common misconception that computers can only be used for learning in an IT context, but they can actually assist students in many different areas, such as literacy, numeracy, science, history, and geography.
Students can use technology tailored to their curriculum to personalise their learning experience outside of the classroom while teachers can limit the applications and websites students may access, ensuring that students are always using school technology appropriately.
Smart Boards
Smart boards are high-tech learning alternatives to the whiteboards used in classrooms. Whiteboards with smart board technology typically project the computer's interface onto the surface so that teachers can interact with the computer through the board and a stylus that resembles a pen.
Through this technology based approach, teachers can present material in a fascinating and interactive way to students. As an alternative to writing on whiteboards or drawing on them, teachers can use computer applications to engage their students. Moreover, smart boards do not require any cleaning.
Assistive Peripheries
The learning capacity of a student can be compromised by a variety of problems such as communication problems, hearing problems, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, and vision problems, or a combination of those problems.
These conditions affecting a students’ education can be accommodated in many ways using technology. Communications boards, frequency modulation systems, writing guides and pen grips, ergonomic supports for different parts of the body, fidget toys and wobble chairs, and braille and large print books are just some of the equipment available. The same learning curriculum will be accessible to students with disabilities.
Gamification Software
The popularity of video game technology among students is high. Along with providing users with a sense of accomplishment as they overcome obstacles and increase their stats, video games also inspire their creativity and proclivity towards escapism.
Many aspects of gaming, including experience points, level progress, and player customization, have been adapted to educational settings through software. Students who use this kind of software get the same sense of accomplishment, but in an educational environment.
Multimedia Creation Applications
Nowadays, it is easier than ever to create content thanks to technology. Making use of that technology in the classroom is a great way to teach students. Not every student wants to learn a subject through essays and notes. Instead, there are software suites that allow students to create all kinds of media, including;
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Photo-collages
- Presentations
- Zines
Engaging students’ creativity is a great way to ensure that they retain information on subjects, as it allows them to use their lateral thinking to take in information in a way that best suits them.
Learning Management Systems
Learning Management Systems (LMS) aid in processing, archiving, tracking, reporting, and automating educational courses, training programs, and learning and development programs. There was a reliance on LMS during the COVID-19 pandemic, as online learning became the norm for every classroom.
Aside from pandemics, LMS' offer many education related benefits, such as allowing students to decide how they will approach their own learning. LMSs also provide students with access to online resources at any time.
Online Conferencing Applications/Social Media Platforms
Similar to Learning Management Systems, these sorts of education software have gained a significant amount of traction during the COVID-19 outbreak. Students benefit from them as well, since they can connect with teachers when they have to miss school, as well as interact with other students from different schools and countries. Additionally, they encourage students to interact and be social, which is invaluable towards a students’ development.
What software does Intellischool provide?
Intellischool provides educators and learners with data analytics software that uses intuitive interfaces, automated configuration, providing educational institutions with real-time, relevant data for every member of the learning community.
Albitros is an online analytics platform that can be utilised by teachers, students, school leaders, wellbeing teams, parents/guardians, data analysts, IT admins and school systems in order to provide valuable insights into learning, behaviour, business operations, and more.
Its features include:
- A holistic view of academic growth, thanks to its ability to consolidate data sources including NAPLAN, ACER, AAS / Allwell, and teacher judgements to visualise student aptitude, achievement and progress.
- Pulse, an automated early warning system that monitors and notifies important parties regarding areas of concern, whether its student truancy, behavioural issues or overall academic performance.
- The ability to gain an understanding of the conditions that students flourish best in; based on factors such as; different types of assessment, learning tools, and even teachers.
- A simple yet powerful interface that anybody can use, regardless of their previous experience with analytics.
Albitros is hosted on the Intellischool Data Platform which provides comprehensive data management tools. These tools simplify and automate data processes such as cleansing errors, warehousing data on the cloud for querying and analysing, distributing data between apps and services and auditing what apps access and interact with data.
The data platform provides:
- Easy data unification technology so institutions can collate data from a student information system (SIS), learning management system (LMS), Google Office 365, etc.
- Security protocols that allow your data to be accessed and protected based on parameters that you set.
- Workflow automation technology, integrating tools such as Microsoft Flow or Zapier to allow actions to be automatically triggered.
- Cloud data synchronisation technology, which synchronises cloud apps with up-to-date data with programs such as Google Workspace or Microsoft Office 365.
If you have any questions, contact us so we can provide you with the best education software possible.
Cover photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash.