How overhead projectors took over your classroom

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="Photo: Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/10/VRG_VRH_Overhead_Site.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">It used to be so easy to get away with things in school. The teacher, after all, was always turned around writing at the chalkboard! But then came a bit of technology, previously mostly used for military purposes, called the overhead projector. It would change far more than just the disciplinary record of students everywhere.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">In this <a href="https://pod.link/1840983742">episode of <em>Version History</em></a>, we tell the story of the overhead projector. David Pierce is joined by <em>The Verge</em>'s Jake Kastrenakes and Stanford professor <a href="https://ed.stanford.edu/faculty/anterog">Antero Garcia</a> to discuss how overhead projectors were developed, how they made their way into classrooms, and how they changed so much about the way kids learn. …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/podcast/1013473/overhead-projector-version-history">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>