AECT Standards Definition Evolution 1963-2008

A brief exploration of key concepts of educational technology, based upon evolving definitions of educational technology published between 1963 and 2008.

The evolving definition of educational technology, shifting from the top-down, control-based model suggested in 1963, to the bottom-up, facilitation model expressed in 2008 is a significant reversal: ;xNLx;Control-based instruction seeks;xNLx;to drill information in; facilitation seeks to draw it out.;xNLx;This reversal did not come about as a result of a sudden, brilliant insight of one or another person, but as a natural response to the self-conceptual changes in the culture as a whole. ;xNLx;We ride a wave called "the times" through the course of our days here, and it's an ever-shifting course, requiring us to rethink and adapt our lives to it ;xNLx;The 45 year period encompassing the range of definitions under consideration were a time of significant social changes in every sector of the culture. ;xNLx;I've tried in the course of this timeline to add elements that indicate that shifting context: advances in science and technology opening new experiences and possibilities to us. New information about who and what we are as humans, our place in the universe and what we are able to accomplish, flooded this 45 year period - and the process has not slowed down.;xNLx;;xNLx;What we adapt, and why; how we adapt and when: these are the only real variables. In the end we always adapt something, somehow, and keep moving.;xNLx;;xNLx;My hope is that through viewing the tid-bits and morsels scattered along the timeline's trail might complement and point toward answers to the background question: How or what caused the surrender of inherited ideas of control (programming the learner with info), permitting the shift toward facilitation?

1958-04-18 09:20:41

The First Gamer was a Nerd!

He ran it on his laboratory oscilloscope, no doubt obsessively, and probably on company time. It's science! Progress! The next Big Thing. Probably, people smiled at his explanations.

1958-04-27 18:14:45

In the beginning

Before the before the beginning of the AECT definitions, there was a context of ideas and advances that pushed the conceptual boundaries to the point that defining statements become necessary.

1959-09-20 09:40:21

Mad Science at its Finest!

Who would have thought that a bird could instruct a man?

1959-09-23 09:20:41

Early EDTECH Adopters

A cutting-edge example of multimedia instructional processes in the 1950s. She was an integrator.

1961-04-26 17:57:31

The first interactive Video Game

Steve Russell, another MIT Wunderkind, develops "Spacewar" for the sake of humankind, here and everywhere.

1962-09-04 21:53:24

Global Communications Blasts off!

This was the first link in the chain. No word on its current status.

1963-02-20 00:00:00

Early EDTECH views

Audiovisual communications is that branch of educational theory and practice primarily concerned with the design and use of messages which control the learning process. (Ely, 1963, pp. 18-19).

1965-10-08 17:04:50

Early multimeda graphics

An interesting instructional video on computers from IBM

1967-02-01 18:02:39

Pretty good prognosticating!

An impressively accurate description of today's technology from the distant past (1967).

1969-09-20 09:40:21

a quick review of the field to-date

Here's a short, but sweet visual timeline from the Brits at the end of the 60s.

1969-09-20 09:40:21

PONG!

The man. The legend. Note the controller. That's high style today.

1970-02-18 15:01:35

Evolving EDTECH Views

A systematic way of designing, carrying out, and evaluating the total process of learning and teaching in terms of specific objectives, based on research in human learning and communication and employing a combination of human and nonhuman resources to bring about more effective instruction (Commission on Instructional Technology, 1970, p. 21).

1970-04-11 13:37:29

Apollo 13 has a problem

The mission that spawned a movie!

1972-02-18 15:01:35

AECT Standards Update

Educational technology is a field involved in the facilitation of human learning through the systematic identification, development, organization and utilization of a full range of learning resources and through the management of these processes (AECT, 1972, p. 36).

1972-06-17 17:27:11

Watergate floods the Media

The scandal heard 'round the world! But how many people have heard this?

1975-04-13 08:39:33

Cray-1: The first supercomputer

The 80mHz Cray was the wonder child of computing in its day. Speech! Speech!

1977-05-25 13:37:29

Stars Wars

Luke, Chewy and the gang romp across hyperspace, saving people, destroying Death Stars, and basically ruining the Evil Emperor's dream of universal domination. Why does that always happen?

1977-09-20 00:00:00

AECT Update?

Educational technology is 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 (AECT, 1977, p. 1).

1984-01-19 11:06:59

Big Bell Break Up

Monopolies not permitted. Reading all about it on the way here, I noticed an interesting line in the Wikipedia Article,

1990-04-24 13:37:29

Suddenly, things become clearer

Finally, after years of delay surrounding the Challenger disaster, on a clear April morning at 8:33, the rocket carrying the Hubble space telescope launches into orbit, providing the field of Educational Technology with yet another useful tool in an ever-growing kit.

1992-03-10 20:54:13

The linux model

In a move that would eventually spur the Open Source Software Project, Linus Norvold creates and releases a UNIX-based OS kernal.

1994-07-28 09:32:03

Apple's got the power

Apples move to the PowerPC processor is considered by many to be a major advance in personal computing and a game-changer for Apple in it's eternal struggle with evil OSs everywhere.

1994-09-20 00:00:00

AECT Standards Update!

Instructional technology is the theory and practice of the design, development, utilization, management, and evaluation of processes and resources for learning (Seels & Richey, 1994, p. 1).

1997-02-22 04:03:51

MicroApple

Aug 1; Steve Jobs returns to Apple. Aug 6: Microsoft buys a $150 million dollar share of financially troubled Apple Computer. Here's a charming clip, some years later, after his second return to Apple.

1999-09-02 05:04:35

Big Gap Bonus Animatation!

An awesome UD symbol story by Melih Bilgil, http://www.lonja.de/ spotted while cruising the cyberwilds of YouTube scanning for pertinent 90's events. While it's not the 90's, it could have been done then, if we'd thought of it then.

2002-03-10 20:54:13

Ten years ahead of its time

But it fits well in the big gap here. Therefore, please enjoy this well done animation on the "History of Graphics Facilitation".

2004-02-02 05:04:35

Mosaic at the edge of cyberspace

The early cross-platform web browser launches the first successful cyberspace viewer into heart and minds worldwide.

2006-07-11 02:13:15

Watch A Network evolve

One minute and thirty five seconds of an excellent animation illustrating the process of neural network building.

2008-02-14 15:45:42

aect Up-to-date

Educational technology is the study and ethical practice of facilitating learning and improving performance by creating, using, and managing appropriate technological processes and resources (Januszewski & Molenda, 2008, p. 1).

2008-09-28 17:41:41

SpaceX Falcon 1 launch

The world's fist privately developed space launch vehicle successfully achieves orbit, paving the way for passenger service to Mars. What will we call an Internet that spans the solar system?

2009-05-25 03:40:31

Facilitation: RSA Style!

Sir Ken Robinson's soon-to-be classic on facilitation and education.

2012-01-01 18:14:45

Internet power to the people!

A major protest online in January shakes up Congressional support for anti-Web piracy measures. The protest, including a 24-hour shutdown of the English-language Wikipedia site, is over two bills, the Stop Online Piracy Act in the House and the Protect IP Act in the Senate.

AECT Standards Definition Evolution 1963-2008

Launch
Copy this timeline Login to copy this timeline 3d Game mode

Contact us

We'd love to hear from you. Please send questions or feedback to the below email addresses.

Before contacting us, you may wish to visit our FAQs page which has lots of useful info on Tiki-Toki.

We can be contacted by email at: hello@tiki-toki.com.

You can also follow us on twitter at twitter.com/tiki_toki.

If you are having any problems with Tiki-Toki, please contact us as at: help@tiki-toki.com

Close

Edit this timeline

Enter your name and the secret word given to you by the timeline's owner.

3-40 true Name must be at least three characters
3-40 true You need a secret word to edit this timeline

Checking details

Please check details and try again

Go
Close