Teacher Technology Timeline

The Teacher and Technology Timeline shown above shows how critical it has been for teachers to remain current with new technologies for teaching and learning - and that this knowledge is more critical today than ever.

As of 2009, for those teachers who have not engaged in technology-related professional development during their career, it is interesting to note that:

•	Teachers with 30 or more years of experience would have all but missed the introduction and evolution of the personal computer.
•	Teachers with 15 or more years of experience would have missed the introduction and evolution of the World Wide Web.
•	Teachers with 10 or more years of experience would have all but missed the influence of the original ISTE NETS standards¹ and iPods.
•	Teachers with 5 or more years of experience would have all but missed the rise of Web 2.0 and Google; they could be described as existing in the era Before Google (B.G.).
•	Teachers with 3 or more years of experience would have all but missed the introduction and evolution of new web media such as web video and virtual reality.
•	Indeed, without suitable professional development, teachers who are just starting their teaching career in fall 2009 will be behind the curve on their very first day of class and will have missed the introduction and influence of the Next Generation NETS standards.²

According to estimates derived from U. S. Census Bureau data, almost half of all teachers have been teaching for 15 years or more; more than 60% have been teaching for 10 years or more, and 84% have taught for 5 years or more.³

1	http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForStudents/.... Retrieved June 23, 2009.
2	http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/NETSRefresh/.... Retrieved June 23, 2009.
3	http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/08statab/educ.pdf. Table 241: Public Elementary and Secondary School Teachers—Selected Characteristics: 2004−2005. Retrieved February 10, 2008.