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First school museum opened
The first school museum opened in St. Louis, marking the beginning of the use of media for instructional purposes. -
First catalog of instructional films published
The first catalog of instructional films was published in the United States, leading to the adoption of films for regular instructional use in Rochester, New York public schools -
Increased use of visual materials in public schools
Now known as the visual introduction movement, the 1920s saw an increase in the use of films, pictures, lantern slides, etc in public schools. -
Start of shift from visual to audiovisual instruction
The late 1920s through the 1940s were a time of major strides in audiovisual media such as sound recordings, radio broadcasting and motion pictures with sound. -
Department of Visual Instruction (DVI) is formed
Three national professional organizations merged to create the Department of Visual Instruction (DVI). This organization eventually became the Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT), and has played an integral role in guiding the instructional design and technology field. -
Division of Visual Aids for War Training is established
The Division of Visual Aids for War Training produced 457 training videos during World War II, resulting in a more effective and engaging content, reducing absenteeism and training time. -
Growth of television
During the 1950s there was a rapid growth of television -
Programmed Instructional Materials minor revolution
B. F. Skinner introduced the concept of teaching in small instructional steps that require engagement of the learner and provide immediate feedback in "The Science of
learning and the Art of Teaching" -
FCC mandates educational television channels
The Federal Communications Commission dedicated 242 television channels to be used for educational purposes. -
Launch of Sputnik propels education
The launch of Sputnik by Russia in 1957 led to increased funding for education, primarily within STEM subjects. -
Shift from viewing instructional technology as a media to as a process
From the 1950s to the 1970s, many field professionals began viewing instructional technology as a process rather than just as media -
Preparing Objectives for Programmed Instruction
Robert Mager presents a new, structured way of teaching educators "how to write objectives that include a description of desired learner behaviors, the conditions under which the behaviors are to be performed, and the standards (criteria) by which the behaviors are to be judged" (ch 2, Resier & Dempsey). -
1st major definition of instructional technology
Commissioned by The Department of Audiovisual Instruction, Ely established a departure in the definition of instructional technology from focusing on media to "the design and use of messages which control the learning process" -
Gagne's Five Domains of Learning Outcomes
Robert Gagne introduces the five types of learning outcomes (verbal information, intellectual skills, psychomotor skills, attitudes, and cognitive strategies). Now a fundamental element in instructional design models, this perspective emphasizes the importance of learners acquiring subordinate skills before superordinate ones. -
First attempt of application of General Systems Theory
Based in behaviorism, Silvern presented an approach to accomplishing learning goals by applying General Systems Theory (GST) -
2nd major definition of instructional technology
The Commission on Instructional Technology declares an updated definition that focuses on the "systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluating the whole process of learning and teaching in terms of specific objectives, based on research on human learning and communication, and employing a combination of human and nonhuman resources to bring about more effective instruction." -
3rd major definition of instructional design
The AECT defines instructional technology as "a complex, integrated process involving people, procedures, ideas, devices, and organization, for analyzing problems and devising, implementing, evaluating, and managing solutions to those problems, involved in all aspects of human learning." -
Entry skills screening exams in war
Gagne highlighted how psychologists utilized evaluation and testing during WWII by examining intellectual, psychomotor, and perceptual abilities in successful performers to develop a preliminary screening test for potential trainees, reducing failure rates by redirecting those with lower initial scores to other programs. -
Human Performance Improvement Movement Emerged
In the 1990s, the human performance improvement movement emerged, directing attention to on-the-job performance, business outcomes, and non-instructional solutions within the field rather than learning as the primary goal. -
Behaviorism broadly defined
Behaviorists Burton, Moore, and Magliaro defined behaviorism as "the philosophy and values associated with the measurement and study of human behavior." -
4th major definition of instructional technology
The AECT defines instructional technology as the "theory and practice of design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning." -
Exponential technology growth in education and business
The 21st century will see a rapid increase in online learning in many sectors, including K-12 schools, higher education, and business and industry. -
Informal learning surge
In the 21st century, there has been an increase in informal learning from sources such as social media for skill acquisition. -
5th major definition of instructional technology
The AECT defines educational technology as "the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources." -
Learning via social media
With the innovative rise of technology, the use of social networking sites such as LinkedIn YouTube has provided a digital learning space with unprecedented widespread accessibility. -
Surge in business training via technology
By 2014, research found that 41% of training in business and technology was executed via technology, increasing 15% from the decade prior.