1900's: era of TECHNOlogy boom in the classroom!
(Pencils.com, Oldest known wood cased picture)
Pencils!
This is one more example of technology we have become so accustom to utilizing in the classroom, that we don't realize its true value or importance. The pencil, what now seems like such a simple tool, was such an essential advancement in technology for the classrooms of the early 1900's. There is much controversy about when or by whom the first pencil was actually created; however, the first modern pencil making process was patented in 1795 by a French chemist named Nicholas Jacques Conté. He made them by mixing powdered graphite and clay, placing it between two half cylinders of wood, forming stick; and then hardening them in a furnace; at various degrees of hardness might I add (Wikipedia, 2013). Although pencils had been invented long before, it wasn't until the early 1900's that they were actually mass produced and widely used in schools. Modern pencils were made in the color yellow to associate them with China, which was known for the best graphite in the world. The color yellow in China also represents royalty and respect. You may not know, but the modern pencils that we use today are actually shaped hexagonal to keep them from rolling off the table (Ronkville, 2011 ).
This is one more example of technology we have become so accustom to utilizing in the classroom, that we don't realize its true value or importance. The pencil, what now seems like such a simple tool, was such an essential advancement in technology for the classrooms of the early 1900's. There is much controversy about when or by whom the first pencil was actually created; however, the first modern pencil making process was patented in 1795 by a French chemist named Nicholas Jacques Conté. He made them by mixing powdered graphite and clay, placing it between two half cylinders of wood, forming stick; and then hardening them in a furnace; at various degrees of hardness might I add (Wikipedia, 2013). Although pencils had been invented long before, it wasn't until the early 1900's that they were actually mass produced and widely used in schools. Modern pencils were made in the color yellow to associate them with China, which was known for the best graphite in the world. The color yellow in China also represents royalty and respect. You may not know, but the modern pencils that we use today are actually shaped hexagonal to keep them from rolling off the table (Ronkville, 2011 ).
(Ronkville, 2011 )
"Oops! I made a mistake!"
We make mistakes in writing all the time. Have you ever taken the time to think about how important technology, like the little pink eraser attached to the end of your pencil, truly is? In the late 1700's, when students made a mistake on paper, they had to use either slabs of wax or breadcrumbs to correct their writing errors! Pencils with attached erasers came about in the mid-late 19th century. "In 1867, a hollow eraser, into which a pencil could be inserted, was invented by J. B. Blair of Philadelphia." (Avameg, Inc., 2013). "In 1872, the Eagle Company made pencils with erasers inserted directly into the wooden case of the pencil." (Avameg, Inc., 2013). Believe it or not, at first the pencils with attached erasers were a controversial topic because teachers felt they would make the students lazier. All I know is; I am very thankful we have pencils with erasers.
We make mistakes in writing all the time. Have you ever taken the time to think about how important technology, like the little pink eraser attached to the end of your pencil, truly is? In the late 1700's, when students made a mistake on paper, they had to use either slabs of wax or breadcrumbs to correct their writing errors! Pencils with attached erasers came about in the mid-late 19th century. "In 1867, a hollow eraser, into which a pencil could be inserted, was invented by J. B. Blair of Philadelphia." (Avameg, Inc., 2013). "In 1872, the Eagle Company made pencils with erasers inserted directly into the wooden case of the pencil." (Avameg, Inc., 2013). Believe it or not, at first the pencils with attached erasers were a controversial topic because teachers felt they would make the students lazier. All I know is; I am very thankful we have pencils with erasers.
WHAT TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOMS MIGHT HAVE LOOKED LIKE FOR YOUR PARENTS?
An interview with Mrs. Lynn Graves, age 48 (her answers to questions are listed in bullets) (Graves, 2013) . Mrs. Graves went to elementary school from 1971-1978. The reason I chose to use Mrs. Graves as my interviewee is because not only is she a parent but she is also an educator herself, so she was able to give me perspectives not only from when she was in elementary school but also since she has been teaching since 1992 to the present.
What was elementary school like in the 1970's?
What kinds of tools did you use for writing?
What was elementary school like in the 1970's?
- For me elementary school was kindergarten through 7th grade. It was in a brick building and 3 walls were made of brick, while the other wall was full length pop-out windows. Very few schools had central air systems at that time. There was still minor forms of corporal punishment however this didn't occur often because students held the utmost respect for their teachers.We didn't have to have things like in school suspension. Oh, we also didn't have PE, because our teachers just took us outside for recess.
What kinds of tools did you use for writing?
- We had pencils, pens, crayons, and paints.
- Our teachers either wrote lessons the chalkboard or taught through class lecture. We also had some pictures shown on the filmstrip projector. I remember having overhead projectors and the white sliding board you had to pull down over the chalkboard so it would show up. The teacher would put up a black and white overhead sheet and the lessons on the overhead were only one page long.
Early 19th century acabus
Were there any forms of manipulatives used?
- In math we used blocks, and abacuses. Abacuses were these wooden frames with beads on them that we used to do arithmetic.
At first I did not have a clue what she was talking about until I did some research. An abacus is an earlier model of what we still use today in classrooms, but now call the "counting frame".
(Alamy, The Encyclopaedia Britannica stopped printing after more than 200 years last year.)
How was research done?
- We did not have computers; unfortunately, we couldn't just Google it! We we needed to research something, we had to go to the library to look in the encyclopedia or if your parents had enough money use a home set of encyclopedias. Eventually in high school, we had some periodicals.
What would you consider technology back then? I remember having technology like:
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How do you feel technology has changed education?
- Technology has made things more interesting for children, opening up a whole new world of exciting things. It has made education far more interactive and hands-on as well. From a teaching stand point, I think technology allows you to hit many different kinds of learning styles, and differentiate extremely well. It took me a while to integrate technology in my classroom because at first it can be scary, when you are stuck in your traditional ways of doing things. However, the more and more I got comfortable with using new technologies, the more and more I integrated them into my classroom structure. As a result, I received more and more benefits for both myself and my students, and an overall more efficient and effect quality of education.
COOL TECHNOLOGIES USED IN the 1900's
B.F. Skinner Teaching Machines!
The first teaching machine came about in the 1950's; after a man named B.F. Skinner visited his daughter's 4th grade classroom for Father's day. It was a machine that had a viewing window which showed the student either a question that was missing a piece of information (Literacy) or a problem that was missing the answer (Math), in any random order. There was also a slot on the machine for the student to write the answer. The machine immediately told the student whether their answer was correct or incorrect. The great thing about the teaching machine was that it allowed students to work at their own paces on the lessons. As time went on Skinner noticed that students were just practicing skills they had already learned, so he created programmed instruction. Now after each correct response, the machine would give less and less help, allowing the students to be able to complete a task they could not have completed on their own at the beginning of the program instead of continuously practicing something they already knew (Vargas, 2005). |
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("1957 Reading Accelerator")
READING ACCELERATORS!
From an interview with Mrs. Florence Williams, a retired teacher who has been teaching since 1960.
(Williams, 2013).
What are reading accelerators?
"Reading accelerators were not used for very long. But I remember you put your book in there, and it had this big metal bar that you clamp down over the page your on, and it moved up or down the page as you read. We let students who were having a hard time focusing while reading use them to improve their reading. I never saw their true value, and I honestly thought they got in the way a lot."
Something to think about: What did you use in school to help you read more efficiently? Do you read with your finger under the words? Do you cover the next line with a sheet of paper? Have you ever needed help holding down the pages while you read? What if you had a huge machine stuck to your book? Do you think it would help or hinder your reading?
From an interview with Mrs. Florence Williams, a retired teacher who has been teaching since 1960.
(Williams, 2013).
What are reading accelerators?
"Reading accelerators were not used for very long. But I remember you put your book in there, and it had this big metal bar that you clamp down over the page your on, and it moved up or down the page as you read. We let students who were having a hard time focusing while reading use them to improve their reading. I never saw their true value, and I honestly thought they got in the way a lot."
Something to think about: What did you use in school to help you read more efficiently? Do you read with your finger under the words? Do you cover the next line with a sheet of paper? Have you ever needed help holding down the pages while you read? What if you had a huge machine stuck to your book? Do you think it would help or hinder your reading?
(Scantron; "Evolution of Classroom Tech,")
SCANTRON MACHINES!
This technology is probably more important to teachers than students. The modern scantron machine has been used in schools since 1973. It was co-invented by Michael Sokolsky in 1972 (TMZ, 2012). It is a machine used to grade multiple choice, true-false, and matching questions. This is a technology that has revolutionized the test and quiz grading system for teachers; making it easier, and faster. You may not have seen the actually machine but I am sure you have seen a scantron sheet before, as they are still widely used for testing purposes today (Scantron Corporation, 2012)!
Tips about Scantron machines: Scantron machines are actually given to schools for free. It's the actual scantron sheets that they have to purchase, which can be pretty costly considering the number of students taking tests!
This technology is probably more important to teachers than students. The modern scantron machine has been used in schools since 1973. It was co-invented by Michael Sokolsky in 1972 (TMZ, 2012). It is a machine used to grade multiple choice, true-false, and matching questions. This is a technology that has revolutionized the test and quiz grading system for teachers; making it easier, and faster. You may not have seen the actually machine but I am sure you have seen a scantron sheet before, as they are still widely used for testing purposes today (Scantron Corporation, 2012)!
Tips about Scantron machines: Scantron machines are actually given to schools for free. It's the actual scantron sheets that they have to purchase, which can be pretty costly considering the number of students taking tests!
1900's bring about change in mathematics technology
HAND-HELD CALCULATORS!
Oh how heavily we now rely on these beautiful tools of mathematics. Today, in 2013, we can find a calculator just about anywhere; on our laptops, phones, iPads, etc. But once upon a time there were no calculators and students learned arithmetic on paper using a pencil, through memorization and repetition. We still see this technique used today, when learning our 0-12 multiplication facts. However in the mid-late 1900's, a nifty little "pocket-sized" tool was introduced to schools that would change the world of mathematics as they knew it. "The hand-held "pocket" calculator was invented at Texas Instruments, Incorporated (TI) in 1966 by a development team which included Jerry D. Merryman, James H. Van Tassel and Jack St. Clair Kilby." ("Hand-held calculators," 2005). It could be used to quickly calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem in a matter of seconds. Since then this mathematical tool has been used widely throughout schools all over the world. There was, and still is, much controversy about the use of calculators in elementary level schools. Let's take a look at each side's arguments on the implementation of calculators into schools.
Oh how heavily we now rely on these beautiful tools of mathematics. Today, in 2013, we can find a calculator just about anywhere; on our laptops, phones, iPads, etc. But once upon a time there were no calculators and students learned arithmetic on paper using a pencil, through memorization and repetition. We still see this technique used today, when learning our 0-12 multiplication facts. However in the mid-late 1900's, a nifty little "pocket-sized" tool was introduced to schools that would change the world of mathematics as they knew it. "The hand-held "pocket" calculator was invented at Texas Instruments, Incorporated (TI) in 1966 by a development team which included Jerry D. Merryman, James H. Van Tassel and Jack St. Clair Kilby." ("Hand-held calculators," 2005). It could be used to quickly calculate addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problem in a matter of seconds. Since then this mathematical tool has been used widely throughout schools all over the world. There was, and still is, much controversy about the use of calculators in elementary level schools. Let's take a look at each side's arguments on the implementation of calculators into schools.
SUPPORTERS SAY CALCULATORS:
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CRITICS SAY CALCULATORS:
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What do you think? Are calculators a good or bad technology for students to use in school? Why or why not? Is there a medium between the two?
I think the use of calculators is okay for students in the classroom. I agree with some of the statements made from both sides of the argument. There is a need for both calculators and a need for routine memorization and practice through repetition. Calculators should not be used to replace mathematics instruction or practice, but instead used to enhance it, or make it better. It is the role of the teacher to find a balance for his or her students in order to make that happen.
I think the use of calculators is okay for students in the classroom. I agree with some of the statements made from both sides of the argument. There is a need for both calculators and a need for routine memorization and practice through repetition. Calculators should not be used to replace mathematics instruction or practice, but instead used to enhance it, or make it better. It is the role of the teacher to find a balance for his or her students in order to make that happen.