Module 5 - Red Queens and Increasing Returns

The movie I reference in Module 4, Minority Report was in my media library. The movie was one of my husband’s favorites. He is a Sci-Fi junkie. If I did not have the movie, it would have been easy for me to obtain it by downloading from my computer or using video on demand. This is an example “Red Queens” as Dr. Thornburg states of the competition between two technologies and leaving other processors behind (Thornburg, D., 2008). Enhancing would be the category this technology should be placed in McLuhan’s tetrad. The technology choices I had to obtain the movie is the easy accessibility which enhances on previous technologies.

Reference:

Thornburg, D. (2008). Red Queens, butterflies and strange attractors: Imperfect lenses into emergent technologies. Lake Barrington, II: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Module 4 - Disruptive Power of Second Life

Disruptive innovation offers a lower performance according to what the conventional market has traditionally demanded. Thus, providing new performance attributes that make it prosper in a diverse markets. Social media such as Twitter and Facebook have disrupted many people lives. This disruptive technology has impacted internet users in several ways. It has caused a change in the way we handle business, dating, and education. Many internet users have blogs and Facebook accounts that effect how they handle their business and social life. In school disruptive technology impacts information presented in an online course and how information is filed. Many educators are use Youtube or Schooltube as an avenue to present information. The some educators present e-books that can be a disruptive technology.

Second Life has evolved and is a disruptive technological force that is growing. I believe Second Life will develop in the education system but at a slower rate, most probably over the next five to ten years. Once appropriate filters are created students in K-12 will be able to have access to the main grid for students to be creative. I believe on the social front it could become an unfortunate evil for those who confuse it as reality.

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

Module 2 - Tetrad of Emerging Technology

Tetrad

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5NBfdiSsRIvSHNmVU9XN1F3SXM/edit

Module 1 - Responses

I responded to J. Sherman, and Julie Kaplan

Module 1 Emerging Technology

"> Emerging Technology - The Elmo There are several new technology tools that have emerged in the past few years. Two emerging technologies that have changed over the past six years is the Elmo, and the other is the Mimio. The Elmo has replaced the overhead projector as the tool for projecting images on a screen. The Elmo is a document camera that allows the use of a whiteboard as a screen to project images such as a textbook, manipulatives or objects. It has eliminated the use of copying transparencies, which was used for the overhead projector. It helps to gain knowledge through the use of visual aid. Another advantage of using the Elmo is the ability to engage students who are hands on learners. Teachers or students can demonstrate by using manipulatives or objects placed on the document camera to solve problems. Some challenges associated with the Elmo that I have found is the use of mobility or visual image that is limited. Another challenge is the use of highlighting or writing on the document. You are unable to erase the highlighted, underline area to use in a future class. The cost is considered another challenge for struggling school districts. The average cost for each document camera is $800.00. References: Education Technology Network (2009) Retrieved from http://www.edtechnetwork.com/document_cameras.html Elmo. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.elmoglobal.com/en/html/about/01.aspx

Responded to Yolanda Lyons at http://ylyonstechnology.blogspot.com
and Tiffany http://tiffanyharrell.blogspot.com/ for Module 6 regarding the integration of technology in teaching and learning.