Right from the time when we scribbled on rock stones to times when we use VR and AR – technology has advanced unimaginably. It has changed the way we learn things.

Here’s a brief look at the early inventions used in education:

The Horn Book – 1650

In the sixteenth century, English monks invented the hornbook with a sheet of paper with alphabets and verses glued to the wooden paddle. Paper was very expensive those days. So they used cow’s horn to protect it. It helped them to read and write alphabets, numbers as well as to study the Lord’s Prayers.

Ferule – 1850

Wood made pointer widened at the end was used to point as well as punish students.

Magic Lantern – 1870

Magic Lantern, the predecessor of projectors, was used to project still and moving objects printed on glass. It is usually shown to students in dark rooms.

School Slate – 1890

A small thin sized blackboard used by students to practice writings. Students use slate pencils to write arithmetic calculations. It can be quickly erased with the help of a sponge.

Blackboard – 1890

A simple wooden- framed instrument is usually mounted on the wall. Using a chalk piece, teachers draw diagrams and teach lessons for better understanding.

Pencil – 1900

Small chunks of pure graphite were inserted in between hollow wooden sticks. It is used to write and draw images on a piece of paper.

Stereoscope – 1905

The stereoscope is an optical instrument used to view images in three-dimensional form. Wheatstone stereoscope, Brewster stereoscope, and Holmes stereoscope were some of the familiar inventions in the early 1900s.

Film Projector – 1925

Film Projector is the first machine to project pictures onto a white screen with movements. The mechanism consists of Edison’s kinetoscope sprocket mounted upon a mutilated gear.

Radio – 1925

Radios are a powerful medium to transmit information. The first organization to use radio for educating students were New York City’s Board of Education. It gradually gave rise to “schools of the air” which broadcast education to thousands of American students.

Ballpoint Pen – 1940

A writing instrument that dispenses ink while moving the metal ball of the pen. It helped replace the use of pencils for adults.

Mimeograph – 1940

The early Xerox machine used to make photocopies by forcing ink onto paper. It helps to print in small quantities for schools and office purpose.

Headphones – 1950

Headphones were invented for communication purpose. Schools began to install listening labs. With the help of headphones and audio tapes, students could repeat the sound for easy understanding.

Slide Rule – 1950

Before the invention of electronic calculators, people used slide rules for computing things. A ruler with logarithmic scales in the 17th century was primarily used for multiplication and division.

Reading Accelerator – 1957

An adjustable, simple device used to tamp down the pages of a book for gaining efficiency while reading.

Educational Television – 1958

In the early 60s, educational television telecast 50 channel shows for learning purpose. It gave rise to distance education.

The Hand-Held Calculator – 1970

A six-inch portable device invented to perform important necessary mathematical calculations. It helped to calculate quickly and accurately without working it on paper.

Students in the early age made use of all the above inventions for education. The development of computers and internet gave rise to a new revolution in the school system such as online learning, cloud computing, virtual learning, gamification, etc. The primary focus of these inventions is to educate students in the best way possible. But still, there are cases, where some students don’t succeed. It can be due to several reasons like falling ill, or due to other disabilities. Call +1 (800) 698-3712 to ask – ‘can you take my online class for me?’