The Wisconsin School of the Air: success story with implications

The rise of computer-based online learning represents either the most exciting and versatile educational technology ever or the first stage of an unrelenting boom and bust cycle (Cuban, 1986). It is too early to tell for certain, but as we read and hear the promises about online learning, perhaps we should listen to Saettler’s (1990) prescient advice: “The most frequent failing of technological futurists is to predict the future with little or no reference to the past” (p. 538). In this paper, I follow Sattler’s advice by exploring the history of the Wisconsin School of the Air (WSA). For nearly a half century, WSA successfully broadcast a curriculum of art, music, science, literature, and conservation to hundreds of thousands of students in Wisconsin. I argue that WSA succeeded because it: 1) focused on specific educational needs using technology, rather than on the technology, as is often done today; 2) designed instruction that complemented radio’s ability to stimulate active involvement and creative imagining; 3) created opportunities for community; and 4) maintained a human touch. Finally, I discuss how the WSA experience can help us today as we attempt to make instruction more productive and enriching.