Innovative Ways Computers Are Revolutionizing Education in 2024

Computers in education can be traced back to the 1940s when vacuum-tubed machines assisted university students in mathematics, science, and engineering. The birth of today’s education technologies, like online collaboration tools and tablets for students, can be traced to the 1990s when affordable personal computers, followed by online connectivity, massively transformed the field. The modern classroom continues to evolve as new computer advances in biometrics and artificial intelligence expand and deepen the education sector. 

History of Computers in Education

Computers are part of education technology or edtech. Examples include digital whiteboards, interactive projection screens, and Massive Open Online Courses. 

The Harvard IBM Mark I, which went into operation in 1944 at Harvard University, aided students, staff, and the U.S. military in numerous complex calculations, from advanced mathematical physics to code-breaking. The ENIAC computing system went live the following year at the University of Pennsylvania for similar purposes. Both effectively replaced the human “computers” employed at the time for such tasks. 

However, the acceptance and widespread use of enterprise computers and similar PCs in public education wouldn’t occur for nearly forty years. The following events help push the edtech to its current prominence. 

Apple II and Macintosh: In 1978, Apple supplied 500 Apple II personal computers to the Minnesota school system. Later, in 1982, the company donated 2000 PCs to the state of California’s education system. In 1984, the company also brought its then-new Macintosh to various colleges and universities, including the entire Ivy League. Apple products dominated the education system until 1999, when Dell computers surpassed it in sales. Regardless, Apple’s actions opened the door for PCs’ presence in American public classrooms. 

Multimedia PCs: In the 1990s, computers that could run videodiscs like CD-ROMs saw a rise in classrooms. Teachers discovered that video, audio, graphics, and animations helped break up the students’ text-heavy material. They also found multimedia made reaching students with issues like hearing impairment easier. 

Internet: While select colleges and universities had online access as far back as the late ’60s, the public school system and the rest of higher education weren’t brought online until the mid-nineties. In 1994, only 35 percent of public schools were wired. Fast-forward to 1997, and nearly 78 percent had Internet access; by 1999, the figure was 95 percent.

Today’s Applications of Computers in Education

Computers have helped move education away from the once-traditional classroom and emphasis on teaching students en masse. Today’s applications aim for more individual studies while providing greater collaboration opportunities between teachers, students, and parents. 

• Enterprise tablets allow students to work independently during assignments while freeing teachers to provide one-on-one instruction for those in need.

• Assessment software tools aid teachers in staying updated with their students’ records, which allows them, for example, to determine whether some students are falling behind and, if so, what further efforts should be made to improve them. 

• Software communication systems make it easy for teachers to keep parents informed on everything from their children’s progress to upcoming school events and fundraisers.

• Online learning communities permit students and teachers to interact virtually, learn new things, collaborate on projects, and network. 

• Online databases make research far more accessible for students than in the past while simultaneously providing up-to-date information at their fingertips.

Weblogs, podcasts, and wikis assist students with their current studies while simultaneously giving them experience with the technologies, much of which are used in higher education, business, etc.

Edtech Future Trends 

New edtech continues to transform schooling, building upon the computer in education while simultaneously going in new directions. 

• Artificial intelligence, with its ability to handle massive amounts of data, is being examined in everything from translating text for students with reading difficulties to managing entire school systems (budgets, classroom size, records, etc.). 

• Biometrics, such as facial recognition, are being tailored to monitor students’ physical and emotional states and target those needing extra support or counseling. 

• Augmented reality / virtual reality through headsets, goggles, or glasses to provide more immersive experiences through virtual tours of great monuments or historical sites. 

• Multi-touch surfaces use capacitive touchscreen technology, allowing numerous students to use them simultaneously for on-site group projects and online collaborations. 

Meet Your Computers in Education Needs with Cybernet

While college and university students were using computers as far back as the forties, the arrival of the PC decades later transformed American public education to its current high-tech state. The transformation continues as today’s applications, like virtual classrooms, are joined by artificial intelligence and other new, upcoming technologies. 

Contact the team at Cybernet Manufacturing if you’re looking for computers to meet your education facility’s wants and needs. Our lineup of education computers and tablets has been tailored to meet many of the sector’s demands, from long product lifespans for a lower cost of ownership to sealed front bezels to make cleaning easy after the students have left for the day. As an Original Equipment and Design Manufacturer, we can further tailor our products to your specifications. 

Join the conversation and connect with us on this and other relevant topics—follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and TikTok. This blog was also posted on the Cybernet Blog.

By Joel Arellano