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Association of American Universities forms
With population growth on an exponential rise, teacher training and standards became of increasing importance. In 1900, the Association of American Universities formed to develop higher standards amongst colleges and universities. Click here to read more on the Association of American Universities -
Period: to
Agricultural Wave
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Period: to
Industrial Era
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Baum publishes The Wonderful World of Oz
More commonly know as the "Wizard of Oz", Baum's fictional tale of a world with munchkins, witches, and a yellow brick road touched the lives of many as undertones of political and social seeped from the text. </a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Wonderful_Wizard_of_Oz' >Click here to read more on "Oz"</a> -
George Claude invents Neon Light
Though Claude's creation took place in 1902, it wasn't until 1910 that he shared his discovery with the world. Click here to read more about the history of neon lights. -
John Dewey founds the School of Education at University of Chicago
John Dewey, a founding father of education, developed elementary and high schools through the University of Chicago that eventually became to be known as laboratory schools. Click here to read more about John Dewey -
Teddy Bear created
On a break from helping to dissolve a state border dispute, Teddy Roosevelt took a break to do a little bear hunting. The Washington Post published an editorial political cartoon or Roosevelt and a cute little bear. The rest is history... Click here to read more about "Teddy" -
Albert Einstein publishes Theory of Relativity
Albert Einstein shared his general theory of relativity with the world explaining that energy is equal to mass multiplied by the square of the speed of light. Click here to read more about E=mc^2In 1905, -
Antiquities Act is enacted
At a point where Americans are recognizing their past and the importance of architecture, the Antiquities Act allows the president to declare national monuments to be historic landmarks. Click here to read more about the Antiquities Act -
Food and Drug Act passed
In an effort to protect the health and livelihood of Americans, the government stepped in to monitor food and drugs being sold in the US. Click here to read more about the Food and Drug Act -
The first Model T is sold
Click here to read more about Henry Ford and the Model T In 1908, Henry Ford provided the first affordable car to the public essetially creating a new Sunday pastime: The Sunday Afternoon Drive. -
Jacques E. Brandenberger invents Cellophane
Click here to read more about Brandanberg and cellphane Essentially changing the way that food could be preserved and protected for the rest of time, Brandenberger invents a clear, plastic film known as cellophane. -
First Women's Suffrage Parade held
Allowing women the right to vote took some convincing. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony were two of the key women involved in the Women's Suffrage Movment. To read more about Women's Suffrage, click here. -
Education Takes 2nd Place
With hunger across the United States at an all-time high, only one-third of children were enrolled in elementary school and only 10% of students graduated from high school. Click here to read more about education in the 1910's. -
Thomas Edison Reveals First Talking Motion Picture
Just at the time when educators were examining different ways to integrate learning for students with technology, Thomas Edison revealed the first talking motion picture. From this point in history, films have been used in an educational setting on regular occasion providing for relevant and current information to students in an engaging manner. To read more about talking motion pictures, click here. -
Titanic Sinks
The largest, fastest ship in the world hits an iceberg killing 1500 people on its maiden voyage. lick here to read more about the Titanic. -
Ford installs first moving assembly line
With the Model T becoming such a huge success, Ford need a faster way to push out product. Click here to read more about the assembly line -
Crossword Puzzle Created
Catering to Americans' love for solving puzzles the first crossword puzzle was published in The New York World. Click here to read more about crossword puzzles. -
Modern Brassiere Invented
Looking for a more comfortable and natural way to support a woman's figure, socialite, Mary Phelps Jacob designed the modern bra. She moved away from the corset-style, waist-thinning whale bones that poked out of the sheer fabrics of the time and constructed a bra with bits of metal and soft fabric. Click here to read more about the brassiere. -
Radio Tuners Invented
Already a major form of communication, the radio was expanded even more so with the option of tuners. With a tuner, more than one station could be delivered on the radio. Click here to read more about tuners -
First U.S. Troops Land in France as U.S. declares war on Germany
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Modern Toaster Invented
While toasting bread had long been a way to preserve and eat bread, designing a way to toast bread quickly was new to the world. Charles Strite invented the modern toaster, as we know it, that could toast bread on two sides at the same time -- effectively saving time for any person making breakfast in the morning. Click here to read more about toaster history. -
Radio Networks take off during the 20's
CBS and NBC became the two largest radio networks during this decade distributing news, comedy hours, and launching performers like never before. Click here to read more about radio during the 20's -
First Robot Invented
Artificial life begins! With the intent on making life for humans easier, robots were invented. Isaac Isamov even added his two cents in with creating the 4 laws of robotics. Click here to read more about the history of robots. -
Prohibition
The 18th Amendment of the Constitution prohitibed the making, selling, and distribution of alcohol illegal. A black market ensued bringing rise to gangs and all kinds of undercover atmospheres. This amendment was repealed in 1933. To read more about prohibition, click here. -
Frozen Food Invented
When Clarence Birdseye figured out a way to flash freeze such food items as fruits and vegetables, an entire new way to cook and preserve foods took over the marketplace. Click here to read more about Birdseye frozen foods. -
Iron Lung (Respirator) Invented
When it was shown in 1670 that the lungs drew in air by expanding the thoracic cavity, Harvard Medical researchers Philip Drinker and Louis Agassiz Shaw used the laws of negative pressure discovered to work in 1927. Using two vacuum cleaners and an iron box, these men created the first respirator. Click here to read more about the iron lung. -
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Black Thursday
On this day in history, the stock market crashed causing massive panic. Banks closed and the country remained in a depression through the '30s. To read more about the Great Depression, click here. -
Skyscrapers Galore!
The 1930's saw a huge boom in construction -- despite the lingerings of the Great Depression. Some of the greatest American architecture arose out of the depression including the Chysler Building and the Empire State Building. To read more about architecture of the 1930's, click here. -
Shantytowns prevelant
With the Great Depression in full swing, the early 30's brought about a high never of areas of cardboard shelters and poorlly constructed shacks for people to live in. Often referred to as Hooverville, in reference to the President Hoover, these areas of cities and towns were were an immediate indication of the poor economy. To read more about Hooverville, click here. -
Electron Microscope Invented
Co-invented by Max Knoll and Ernst Ruska, the electron microscope allowed scientists to magnify opjects up to 1 million times. Click here to read more about the electron microscope. -
Surviving the Dust Bowl
In 1931, farmers headed west to Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas for a life of prosperity only to endure 10 straight years of drought and poor crops. To read more about the Dust Bowl of the 1930's, click here. -
First Jet Engine Built
Dr. Hans von Ohain and Sir Frank Whittle are both credited for building the first jet engine eventhough neither one knew of the other's work. It goes without saying that this invention changed the transportation industry and livlihood of economies around the world. Click here to read more about the first jet engine. -
Ball Point Pen Invented
Does anyone have a pen? Using the fast dryig ink technology used on newspapers, Laszlo Biro placed a ball bearing in the end of a metal tip, creating the first ball point pen. The Air Force quickly took to this new idea so that pilots and navigators could keep records at high altitudes without the pends leaking. Genius! To read more about ball point pens, click here. -
First Electronic, Fully Programable Digital Computer Invented
With paper in short supply in Germany due to the war, Konrad Zuse created the Z3 with recycled and donated supplies. This was the first electronic, fully programable digital computer. Click here to read more about the Z3 -
Rosie the Riveter
As men headed off to work, women began filling the roles of the workplace. Pants became widely accepted and the picture of Rosie the Riveter became the symbol of the working woman. Click here to learn more about Rosie the Riveter. -
Women in the Workforce
With the majority of men off and fighting in World War II, women and African Americans were given the chance to enter the workforce. Opportunities were offered to single women first. By 1943, married women were welcome to apply. To read more about women in the workplace, click here. -
GI Bill Rights
With veterans returning from the war, the GI Bill offered men the opportunity to recieve higher education. Thus, higher ed not only became a booming business, but also dramatically increased the number of individuals who now possessed a Bachelor's Degree. To read more about the GI Bill Rights, click here. -
Movies Raise Morale
Click here to read more about the movie industry of the 1940's.The U.S. War Department deemed the movie industry vital to the morale of American soldiers fighting overseas. As a result, the movie industry boomed during the 40's catapulting stars like Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brandon and several others into massive fame. -
Atomic Bomb tested
After Albert Einstein wrote President Roosevelt and other scientists in 1939 about Nazi Germany's intent to purify Uranium-235 and build and atomic bomb, the Manhattan Project was immediately underway. In early July of 1945, scientists would discover if their years of work would be worthless or change the world forever. Click here to read more about the atomic bomb. -
Baby Boom!
With soldiers returning from the war and women moving back into the role of homemaker, a baby boom erupted! To read more about the Baby Boom, click here. -
Period: to
Information Age
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Cold War
Though it spanned for nearly two decades, the Cold War reached its peak during the 1950's as the United States rivaled withsatellite nations in the areas of military, science, technology, and economics. To read more about the Cold War, click here. -
Credit Cards Invented
To read more about credit cards, click here. </a>For the first time, diners could go to a restaurant and present their Diners Club Card and eat without having any cash. Instead, if the restaurant accepted the card, customers could pay the company once a month. Born was a new way to do business. Within 8 years, 3 major credit card companies were in business....and still are today! <a href='http://http://inventors.about.com/od/cstartinventions/a/credit_cards.htm' > -
Bar Code Invented
With industry rapidly expanding, companies needed a way to keep track of inventory and collect data. The bar code allowed for such action to take place. To read more about bar codes, click here. -
First Solar Cell Invented
In recent years, solar cells have revolutioned the energy industry. It all began with three scientists, three strips of silicon, and a day in the sun. From there, the rest is history! Click here to read more about solar cells. -
Brown v. Board
One of the most influential decisions regarding education made by the Supreme Court of the United States. Brown v. Board of Education overturned Plessy v. Ferguson thus acknowledging that seperate facilities for races was unequal. -
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a Montgomery Bus.
Tired after a long day of work, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. As a result of her action, she was arrested. This sparked a 300+ day bus strike by African Americans around the country and is noted as one of the most powerful moments during the Civil Rights movement. To read more about Rosa Parks, click here. -
First Computer Modem Invented
Modems are part of our everyday lives. But, in 1958, the government needed a way to transmit defense data across seas via telephones lines. The computer modem was the answer to data transfer and opening up communication on a global level. Click here to read more about computer modems. -
Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights were responsible for tremendous change to the United States during the 1960's. With leaders like Malcom X, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Cesar Chavez, great strides were made in equality amongst races, ethnicities and gender. To read more about the Civil Rights and the 1960's, click here. -
Rachel Carson writes Silent Spring
In general, society was becoming more concerned with the environment and their impact on it. Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring helps to put society into motion to create change. To read more about Rachel Carson, click here. -
Spacewar: First Video Game Invented
Bring on graphics and addiction to digital mind games! Spacewar was the first video game developed in 1962, by a young MIT student. This game changed the way computers were used entirely and fueled the fire for an entire industry of gaming systems for the future. Click here to learn more about Spacewar. -
"Glass Ceiling" introduced to society
The Presidential Commission of the Status of Women released disturbing findings in 1963 effectively proving that women were not treated equally in the workforce and coined the term "glass ceiling". To read more about the "glass ceiling", click here. -
President John F. Kennedy Assassinated
Touted as being one of the first leaders of the United States to place a strong focus on science, technology, and education, President Kennedy was assassinated during a parade through Dallas, Texas on a November morning. To read more about Presdient John F. Kennedy, click here. -
President Johnson declares the Great Society
After taking over office for President Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson declared the time period to be termed as the Great Society in an effort to rebuild everything from education to job opportunities. To read more about Johnson's Great Society, click here. -
Jerome Bruner Introduces Constructivist Theory
Building upon the foundations of behaviorism and cognitivism, Jerome Bruner developed his theory of constructivism. With his theory, he states that learning takes place as an active process building upon current/past knowledge of the learner. To read more about Constructivism, click here. -
First Handheld Calculator Invented
Calculating devices had been around for centuries by the time the 60's rolled around. However, when the handheld calculator burst onto the business scene in 1967, it changed the way businesses would operate for good. To read more about the history of calculators, click here. -
RAM Invented by Robert Dennard
Often compared to as the "short-term memory" of a computer, RAM offters the ability for a computer to access data in any random order. This dramatically helped to speed up the processing of computers. Click here to learn more about RAM. -
Sesame Street
With over 120 million children watching in over 130 countries around the world, Sesame Street becomes the largest educators of young children. Click here to read more about Sesame Street. -
Affirmative Action
Rooted in the Kennedy Presidency, Affirmative Action was designed to provide employment to people without regard to race, ethnicity, and later, gender. During the 1970's this became a highly controversial issue for businesses and society. Click here to read more about Affirmative Action. -
Kent State Massacre
As students protested Nixon's announcement of the invasion of Cambodia, Ohio National Guard short and killed 4 unarmed college students and wounded 9 others. To read more about the Kent State shootings, click here. -
First Microprocessor Invented
Two unhappy computer engineers left their company to begin their own in 1968. The company was called Intel. Just 3 short years later, the first microprocessor was invented. With a microprocessor, all integrated circuits were placed on one small, tiny chip effectively changing the way computers were sized and how quickly they processed forever! To read more about the first microprocessor, click here. -
Ethernet Invented
With computers now small enough to fit on a desktop in an office, buildings were being filled with them. The next step was to find a way to connect each of the computers in a network to share information and provide printing access between multiple computers. Ladies and gentlemen, we have the ethernet. To read more about the ethernet, click here. -
Oil Crisis
The United States came to a rapid relization of their dependency on petrolieum when Arab nations in OPEC announced they would not ship oil to those nations who supported Israel in its conflict with Egypt and Syria. The western world was catapulted into a recession. To read more about the Oil Crisis of 1973, click here. -
Oil Crisis affects Americans
To read more about the Oil Crisis and Americans, click here.The United States came to a rapid relization of their dependency on petrolieum when Arab nations in OPEC announced they would not ship oil to those nations who supported Israel in its conflict with Egypt and Syria. The western world was catapulted into a recession. -
Integration Bussing Ordered by MA Judge
Federal Judge Arthur Garrity orders busing of African American students to predominantly white schools in order to achieve racial integration of public schools in Boston, MA. To read more about bussing to end segregation, click here. -
Post-It Notes Take Over!
No more losing notes from meetings, phone messages, or random thoughts. Arthur Fry solved this problem with the help of 3M and a friend who invented a glue that left no residue, could stick to nearly any surface, and could be repositioned. Click here to read more about Post-It Notes. -
Video Games Galore!
The 80's brought us a new wave of video games-- both at home and in arcades. The most popular games included Space Invaders and Pac Man. To read more about video games in the 80's, click here. -
First IBM-PC Released
Click here to read more about PC's.No longer did the business world have sole rights to the computer. With PC standing for "personal computer", people could purchase their own computer (with optional color monitor, of course!) for just over $1500...that's nearly $4000 in today's standards. -
"Mastery Teaching" published
in 1982, Madeline C. Hunter published her book, "Mastery Teaching", that discussed direct instruction as the most effective model of teaching. Teachers from around the country began attending her training sessions to become "Hunterized". To read more about Madeline C. Hunter's "Mastery Teaching", click here. -
First Apple Mcintosh Invented
In 1984 it was time for Apple to provide some competition for IBM and the PC world. With the introduction of the Macintosh, a rivalry would begin. Ironically, the Mac's start off in the consumer market was slow. It wasn't until Steve Jobs figured out that software to accompany the computer would be the way to win over consumers. Looks like he was right! To read more about the first Mac, click here. -
Charter Schools Begin
Charter schools, now prevalent across all 50 states, began to make their mark in 1985 by opening schools in over 40 states. To read more about charter schools, click here. -
Global Warming rises in importance
Finally realizing the impact that humans have upon the planet, global warming began to peak the interest of many around the country and world. Could Americans break their love affair with their gas guzzling cars??? To read more about the rise of global warming, click here. -
Reagan and the War on Drugs
With the election of Ronald Reagan as president and a strong woman as First Lady, a large focus was placed on children and preventing drug use. Thus, in honor of his wife, Reagan signed the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986 that created harsh punishments for drug loards and those posessing illegal substances. To read more about the War on Drugs, click here. -
First Digital Cellular Phone Invented
1988 brought us the first digital cell phone and the dissolving of the 8-5 work day. No longer could one step out of the office for a break, lunch, or even the evening to get away from the business world. The cell phone began with changing the workplace and eventually the rest of society was hooked! Click here to read more about cell phones. -
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!
The 90's brought an entirely new look at consumable products. Thus, industry changed dramatically to focus on products that were "green" and less damaging to the environment. Going Green became big business! To learn more about business practices of the 90's, click here. -
The WWW is Invented
Tim Berners-Lee writes the first web browser fondly known to us know as the World Wide Web. Click here to read more about the WWW. -
Constructivist learning theory becomes highly popular
Based on the work of Vygotsky, Bruner, Piaget, and Dewey, constructivist approach to teaching becomes of huge interest to educators. To read more about constructivism in the 1990's, click here. -
Educate America Act: Goals 2000
Clinton administration adds two goals to the National Educational Goals: increased parental involvement and professional development for teachers. Provides support to states to develop standards and assessments. To read more about the Educate America Act, click here. -
Online Business Begins
With the invention and rapid growth of the world wide web, businesses hopped on the bandwagon to spread the word about their own companies. With technology available to encrypt credit card information, companies could now sell products on-line and effectively opened themselves up to a global market. Click here to read more about e-commerce. -
Napster begins the Peer-to-Peer Revolution
What began as an experiement between a high school drop out and a few of his friends, quickly changed the way the music industry would forever practice business. By the end of the first week, when Napster had been downloaded by nearly 15,000 users sharing music files for free. To read more about the history of Napster, click here. -
Blogger Launched
Beginning with only 23 blogs in the list, Pyra Labs launched the first blogging system. Upon seeing the potention that blogs had to cyberspace, Google acquired Blogger in 2003. Click here to learn more about the history of Blogger. -
No Child Left Behind Act signed by Pres. George W. Bush
NCLB, a law approved by congress and signed by President George W. Bush, forces schools to be held accountable for student achievement penalizing those schools who do not meet adequate yearly progress as deemed by NCLB goals. To read more about NCLB, click here. -
Human Genome Mapped
In a quest to understand how humans operate on a genetic level, scientists began to map out the human genome in 1990. An early map was released in 2000 and the complete one in 2003. To read more about the HGP, click here. -
Reinvestment and Recovery Act
American Reinvestement and Recovery Act provides nearly 90 billion dollars to education to help modernize schools and prevent layoffs. To read more about the Recovery Act, click here. -
Period: to
Social-Connectedness Era
The 4th wave that I believe we are on the cusp of encountering is the Social-Connectedness Age. One might describe this simply as a Communication Age, but I beg to differ. First of all, social-connectedness goes far beyond methods of communication. It includes the likes of the economy, social class, family structure, education reform, volunteerism, and, of course, technology. As it’s facilitator, technology allows for change to take place in each of these areas, but can also stimulate growth and
