Technology allows us to do the same things we have been doing, only differently. Buying, selling, communicating, etc. is now more streamlined and efficient because of technology. Take for instance, communication. We started with runners over land and ships by sea to carry messages and mail. The Pony Express was later established to get correspondence through hostile territory more quickly. In the 1700s, steam engines were invented (Botorff, n.d.) and in the 1840s, the electric telegraph was invented allowing messages to be sent via Morris code (Rainwater, n.d.). In 1876, the first telephone transmission was made (Wikipedia, n.d.) and in the 1890s, the first gasoline powered car was built (Bottorff, n.d.). In 1924, airplanes were used for the first time in the United States by the U.S. Postal Office (AcePilots.com, 2009). Finally, we come to the Internet where electronic mail (e-mail) was started in 1972 (Gaudin, 2002), followed by instant messaging and web conferencing capabilities. The evolution of communication, in around a century and a half, is quite impressive!

In education, technology has evolved, allowing us to still give quizzes and tests, as well as, take and average grades, but we can now do all of this on the computer where it will automatically score and average grades for us. Students can use the internet to research resources online through various search engines like Google and the Encyclopedia Britannica, instead of being limited to using old card catalog systems and what is available in their school library.

As a learning tool, educators have been using technology to engage and motivate students. One such resource is online or company provided games. Game play is a prime example of “doing things differently” to educate students. Instead of reading a book, filling out a worksheet, or taking notes on a lecture, students can work interactively to learn grade-level content. Now, I am not saying games should replace all teaching strategies, but I am stating that games offer a fun and lively way to introduce or reinforce content to students. Games provide basic to complex visual stimulation, promotes fundamental to advanced motor skills, and encourages critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Depending on the type of games made available to students, they can build upon their independent learning and/or social and group collaboration skills.

Resources:

AcePilots.com. (2009). Record-setting pioneers in the golden age of aviation, 1919-39. WW2 and aviation – facts, history, and pictures. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.acepilots.com/pioneers.html

Airline – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (n.d.). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline#The_first_airlines
Bottorff, W. W. (n.d.). The First Car – A History of the Automobile. Austin Business Computers, Inc. Home Page. Retrieved March 8, 2010, from http://www.ausbcomp.com/~bbott/cars/carhist.htm
Gaudin, S. (2002, July 17). A conversation with the inventor of e-mail – InternetNews.com. InternetNews realtime news for IT managers. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/1408501
Rainwater, D. (n.d.). Evolution of communication. SG & Singapore map – Singapura, Singapur, Singapore information. Retrieved March 6, 2010, from http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/119438/conference_call_pricing/evolution_of_communication.html