"Bill Ferster's book offers a solid introduction to the history of educational media, chronicling various technological developments alongside the justifications that engineers and educators have used for incorporating these into teaching and learning. This history is important as too often educational technology is discussed as though it has no connection to history or to theory."
"In Sage On The Screen, Bill Ferster ably demonstrates that nearly every aspect of media that we consider to be "new" has deeply rooted precedents. Ferster succeeds in making crucial connections between various aspects of education media development over the past 130 years. Most importantly, he highlights the valuable lessons that need to be learnt from this history if we are to see the benefits of the education media of today. All in all, a must-read for anyone seeking to make proper sense of education, media and society."
"Bill Ferster's book is a carefully researched, complex, and insightful take on both the past and future of digital technology in higher education. Unlike the 'disruptors' who believe that higher education’s business model is broken and can only be transformed by heavy investment in edtech, Ferster draws careful connections between the actual capabilities of technology and the goals of educators."
"Anyone thinking of introducing "disruptive technology" into higher education should read The Sage on the Screen first. Bill Ferster’s history of media in education provides useful lessons about the promise and peril of technology in the classroom."
"The book is easy to read, with great illustrations and personal stories. The changes in hardware and software are also well explained and made friendly for non-experts... Helpful for producing more nuanced and complex arguments about how media and technology have contributed to schooling and learning."
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