education
Bad News Beepers
Considering the reputation that pagers and beepers had as a tool for drug trafficking, especially in schools. Did it smother a legitimately useful technology?
Textbooks of the Air
Long before there were podcasts, there were attempts to use the radio as a way to distribute educational programming.
Lessons in Pivoting
The story of an online education platform that learned something about its own ability to survive during the pandemic.
Journeys, Dreams, and Everything In Between
Worked For Me
Why it seemed like Hooked on Phonics commercials were everywhere in the 1990s—and why the cassette-tape program was a lot more controversial than you remember.
iBook Stampede
Why did thousands of people trample one another to buy a $50 iBook in 2005? In many ways, it’s a story about a lack of tech access that’s still being told.
Channel None
For nearly 30 years, many schools aired a daily news show in exchange for free AV equipment. Channel One was a hit—but the ads drove seemingly everyone crazy.
Learning At 300 Baud
The story of the world’s first Electronic University, which came to life a lot earlier than you might expect given that moniker. Modems were involved.
Total Edutainment Forever
The problem with edutainment in the 1990s was that, while it covered the education, it didn't do enough to entertain the kids. Sorry, Math Blaster.
Playing Around Throughout History
Educational toys are preferred by ambitious parents looking for an edge. Their recent history is marked by upheaval, mimicry, and bloodthirsty competition.
Trapper Keeper Contraband
The Trapper Keeper is a beacon of nostalgia, but generic branding and school rules have pushed it off to the side. Good luck finding a new one.
The Toy That Talked Back
Four decades ago, the Speak & Spell came about, and the result was Texas Instruments’ greatest gadget and a pop-culture icon.
Building Blocks, Literally
Perhaps alphabet blocks seem like an obvious idea now, but it took a lot of foundation to build up that pretty good idea into something incredibly common.
Bad Education
Growing up as a child actor is a pretty tough life. Not even your education is guaranteed to be good.