In this 1988 photo, Professor of Physical Education Bob Davis leads an anatomy lab using skeleton models and bone replicas to teach students about human movement. Lessons were reinforced with handwritten notes on a blackboard, and students engaged in hands-on learning with physical specimens.To mark Brock’s 60th anniversary, The Brock News is running a monthly series looking back at the University’s history through photos.
Classrooms have transformed dramatically over the past six decades, moving from blackboards and paper notes to digital touchscreens and interactive learning tools.
In the early years of Brock, classrooms were defined by chalkboards, overhead projectors and handwritten notes.
Professors relied on blackboards to illustrate key concepts, while students diligently copied notes by hand. Overhead projectors, a staple in the 1980s and 1990s, allowed instructors to display pre-written transparencies, but learning remained largely lecture-based.
Anatomy Laboratory Supervisor Parker Holman leads a group of students through 3D virtual models of the human body in Brock’s state-of-the-art anatomy lab. The high-resolution display allows for digital dissections and detailed views of anatomical structures, enhancing students’ understanding in ways previously unimaginable.
Space was also a challenge. By the 1970s, rapid enrolment growth saw classrooms at capacity, leading to the University carefully balancing expansion with financial constraints.
As Brock continued to grow, so did its approach to teaching.
The early 2000s marked a turning point with the construction of the Walker Complex and new academic buildings, introducing whiteboards, digital projectors and enhanced lecture hall technology.
By 2002, classrooms were equipped with electronic blackboards, video conferencing capabilities and high-speed internet, creating a more interactive and connected learning experience.
Professor of Economics Joe Kushner using an overhead projector during a lecture in one of the Thistle lecture halls in the 1980s.
Research was no longer confined to the library, as students began accessing vast digital archives and engaged in global discussions with the click of a button.
Today, Brock’s classrooms are high-tech learning environments. Interactive smartboards, digital tablets and virtual dissection tables provide students with immersive, hands-on experiences that were unimaginable decades ago.
Advances in accessibility technology have also transformed the learning experience, making education more inclusive than ever. Features such as real-time captioning, assistive listening devices and screen-reading software ensure students of all abilities can fully engage with course material.
Adjustable-height desks, voice-to-text tools and digital resources allow for flexible and personalized learning, breaking down barriers that once limited access to higher education.
