RISD Technology Applications Curriculum
Telecommunications & Ethics: Grade 5
Lesson 4
The History of Computers and the Internet
Students will examine several web sites to collect data regarding the History
of Computers and the Internet from 1950 to 2001. They will use the software
program entitled "Timeliner" to develop their own timeline with graphics from
several sites. These will be displayed for the campus.
Materials
Web Sites
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http://www.pbs.org/internet/timeline/index.html
http://www.isoc.org/internet-history/
http://www.computerhistory.org/
http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/internet_history/index.page
http://ftp.arl.mil/ftp/historic-computers/
Software
 Timeliner
Templates
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Computer History Data Sheet
Preparation
Prepare the Teacher Presentation Station with the web sites to be examined. Tell
the students they will be accessing various sites to gather data or information
about the history of the Internet. They will produce a Timeline complete with
graphics to exhibit their learning and their work.
Focus
Students will be examining the history of the Internet. Students will
access http://www.pbs.org/internet/timeline/index.html and examine the
timeline on that site. The students will then prep a timeline of their own
of the key events in the history of the computer from 1950 to 2001 using
the program Timeliner, Additional resources can be found at
http://www.isoc.org/internet-history/ and at
http://www.computerhistory.org/. Preview both of these for the students.
Lessons Created by Richardson Independent School District, 2001
 Overview of the lesson and the
objectives of the lesson.
Version 1.0
T&E 5-4-1
Telecommunications & Ethics - Grade 5
RISD Technology Applications Curriculum
Teach/Model
1. In the classroom on the Teacher Presentation Station, activate the
timeline at http://www.pbs.org/internet/timeline/index.html. Move
from year to year on the timeline showing students how to navigate
along the timeline.
2. Go to the additional resources at http://www.isoc.org/internethistory/ and http://www.computerhistory.org/ and activate each link
allowing the students to preview what is on those sites.
3. Tell students that these are the ONLY sites to be used for this
activity.
4. Pass out document entitled "COMPUTER HISTORY DATA".
In the Multimedia Classroom, schedule a time for the Technology
Assistant to teach "TIMELINER" to your class.
 Classroom Demonstration.
 Demonstrate the timeline site to
demonstrate navigation of
timeline.
 Demonstrate the additional sites
and links so that students see
the amount of resources
available to them.
Guided Practice
1. Have students, either together in the Multimedia Classroom or
in pairs at the classroom Student Stations as a Technology
Center, begin to access the sites and gather information that they
will collect on their data sheet.
2. Technology Assistants and teachers should monitor progress and
on task behavior if in the MM Classroom.
3. In the classroom, at the Student Stations, occasioned checks on
progress should be made.
4. After collecting the data students begin to put their data on a
timeline using TIMELINER.
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5. Students access
http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/internet_history/index.page.
Graphics are available to students for their timelines. Be sure to
have them reference or cite their source if they choose to use any
of the graphics.
6. In order to select the graphic, they put arrow on top of the graphic,
single click, and the graphic opens up in a Word Document to be
inserted into their timeline.
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Students work in the Multimedia
Classroom or at a Technology
Center or Student Stations in
the regular classroom.
Students collect data on their
Computer
History
Data
document.
Students use TIMELINER to
develop their Computer History
timelines.
Students choose graphics for use
with their timeline.
Students may choose to use
graphics from the Microsoft
Network
Clip
Gallery
@
http://dgl.microsoft.com/?CAG
=1
Closure
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Have students display their completed timelines.
With students discuss what they learned about computers.
Ask students to consider the future of computers and what some
events may be in the future.
Writing a descriptive or narrative piece regarding their predictions
as a follow up activity.
You may want your students to take their timelines to younger
students classrooms to discuss their learning and the History of the
Internet.
(TE 5-4-2
Version 1.0
 Display Timelines of Students.
 Review the lesson.
 An Additional Activity may be
for the students to write a
descriptive or narrative piece
regarding the future of
computers.
 Students present their timelines
to younger students.
Lessons Created by Richardson Independent School District, 2001