The process of imparting essential knowledge, skills and values has been expedited and made much easier by the use of technology. Educational technology often refers to the learning processes and system that could be used to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the educational system. It would be interesting to take a quick peek at the history of educational technology.

Using technology in the learning process could be tracked down to the days when man invented the earliest tools and used them to create paintings on cave walls. In the early 1900’s, man began creating educational films. Decades later in the 1920’s, Sidney Pressey developed the first "teaching machine, which offered drill and practice exercises, and multiple choice questions. The Second World War saw the first large scale usage of new technologies to train US soldiers through films and mediated materials.

The 1950’s, meanwhile, saw the development of an updated "teaching machine" and "programmed instruction" by B. F. Skinner. The decade also saw the commencement of machine learning as Frank Rosenblatt invented the "perceptron" in 1957. The 1970's to 1990's, on the other hand, is the development period for “computer-based training" (CBT), computer-aided instruction (CAI), and computer-based learning (CBL).

Educational technology took a big leap in the mid-90’s when the digitized communication and networking became popular through the usage of world wide web, e-mail and forums. These technologies gave birth to a new teaching paradigm, computer-mediated communication (CMC). Programs like Microsoft PowerPoint and Word have become typical applications used in the educational process.

The 2000's until recently, thousands of pervasive technologies were developed that could help expedite the process of education.

Technology has been a big factor in helping professors, students and other education stakeholders to make the learning process become effective and efficient as well as exciting and enjoyable.