Module 3 - Rhyme of History

Rhymes of history are revealing of technologies that are new developments that result from the influence of previous technology (Thornburg, 2009a). As stated by Dr. Thornburg the Rhyme of History is “an affect of new development that rekindles something from the distant past”. I view Mimio and/or Smartboards as innovation of rhymes of history.

 

Everyone can identify with the blackboard or whiteboard. The Mimio technological device reinvents the use of these tools. The blackboard was a simple board of matted black paint. The whiteboard is the analogous of the blackboard used in the classroom. The whiteboard is a glossy white surface that uses dry-erase markers. In the past ten years, the whiteboard has become interactive.

The Mimio is the same as a SmartBoard. It is smaller device attached to the whiteboard, connected to a laptop or desktop and projected with an LCD. The whiteboard becomes the computer monitor and the electronic pen becomes the marker. This technological tool was expensive and very few seen in the classroom. Today in the 21st century classroom you will see this device in most classes. As stated by Kevin Kelly’s in the speech “The Next 5,000 Days of the Web” “we have to get better in believing in the impossible”. A decade ago it seemed impossible that there would be a portable device such as the Mimio in every classroom, when there was just one large Smartboard in the school. The gains created in technology in my school system are encouraging to what the future holds.

Reference:

Thornburg, D. (Producer). (nd). Rhymes of History. [Video Podcast]. Laureate Education, Inc.

Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from: http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

n.a. (n.d.) What is Mimio? Retrieved from : http://www.cantonschools.org/content/pdf_files/What_is_MIMIO_Technology.pdf