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 the overhead projector, a piece of technology previously used for military purposes. It would change more than just the disciplinary record of students everywhere. In this episode of Version History, David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Jake Kastrenakes and Stanford professor Antero Garcia. They delve into how overhead projectors were developed, how they made their way into classrooms, and how they changed the way kids learn. They also ponder why overhead projectors have mostly gone away, and whether the tools that replaced them – PowerPoint presentations, computer screens, and smart boards – actually improved on the OHP. This is the final episode of the fifth season of Version History, all about the most iconic school tech. Other than the OHP, the season explored Oregon Trail, the original Chromebook, the One Laptop Per Child program, the LeapFrog LeapPad, and those Texas Instruments calculators. If you missed any part of the season, check out the episodes here. If you’re a Verge subscriber, you can also get access to Version History (and all our other podcasts) with no ads. All you have to do is visit your account settings. If you want to know more about the overhead projector, here are some links to get you started.