Module 6-Addressing the Digital Divide

This short video helps to explain the "digital divide" and the impact it has on today's society.

As a leader in educational technology, what can you do to help make emerging technologies valuable to others, while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity?

As I watched the vodcast by Dr. David Thornburg about addressing the digital divide, I could think about my past years as an educator and if I had addressed any of these issues with fidelity.

In the early part of my teaching career I taught in a modest school that had a high rate of free and reduced lunch and minority population. These students mostly came from broken homes and had little time and respect for the learning process due to their circumstances at home. It was in these early years of my career that technology was slowly making an impact in schools and the practical applications were far from in the teacher's hands. Many people questioned my methods when integrating computers into my lessons or putting them in the hands of my students rather than sitting idly on my desk.

At that time, and now, I feel it is my job as an educator to provide the best learning environment for my students. If that meant that my one computer in my classroom was it, then I made sure that each child had an opportunity to experience all it had to offer. It was amazing to see the value of these lessons when students could use a tool that was far from ever being in their hands at home. Today, I teach in a different area with a different group of students. Although computers are more prevalent in homes today, there are still students that do not have one or many that don't know how to use them as a learning tool. Dr. David Thornburg made a powerful statement in his vodcast, "It’s always important to be thinking about other people and how they might be using these tools." I take this into consideration with every project I develop and the opportunities that it will bring to my classrooms. I also try and promote this way of thinking about technology integration with my colleagues, many who still see "those things" as a nuisance and waste of time.

It is vital in today's digital world that we expose our students to all that the world had to offer and to make those experiences full-filling and meaningful to them as students and people. So know as I reflect upon my post and think about all the years I have tried to integrate technology I can honestly say that I have helped to make emerging technologies valuable to others, while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity.

And will be something I continue to do throughout the rest of my career.

For more information about the digital divide please look at these resources:

http://www.digitaldivide.org/

http://www.edutopia.org/digital-divide-where-we-are-today

Reference:
Thornburg, D. (2009). Diversity and globalism. Laureate Education, Inc. Retrieved November 21, 2010 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4199715&Survey=1&47=5828341&ClientNodeID=984645&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Module 5

Red Queens and Increasing Returns

When I first read the assignment for Module 4 that I had to watch a movie, I was a little shocked. What could a movie possibly do with my current educational studies? So I began my quest to find a movie. First, I looked to our movie library only to find that we did not have any of the titles. Next, I put out a request via a popular social networking site to find out that a friend of mine did have one of the titles, however she was 2,000 miles away. So knowing that I needed the movie a bit quicker than snail mail would allow, I went to the internet and Netflix won out.

How could you not love Netflix? The option to have unlimited DVD rentals and instant streaming to my computer…what could be better? It’s definitely worth the monthly fee to have the late fees disappear when I can’t find the DVD or my children have “put it away” in a manner that they can only find.

The battle of rental vs. video on demand is an example of Increasing Returns. In this force, “Two innovations hit the market at about the same time, (and) by chance one technology gets locked in and drives the other to extinction (Thornburg, 2008). Video on demand hit the market a bit later than rental stores, however I feel that it still falls under this category due to the increasing number of rental stores going out of business in the past few years (extinction). In today’s on demand world it only seemed logical to have a favorite American pastime jump on board.

In McLuhan’s tetrad there are four areas to consider for DVD’s and video on demand; Enhances, Obsoletes, Retrieves/Rekindles, and Reverses. I would have to say that video on demand obsoletes the need for concrete buildings in the movie watching world and DVD’s enhances the movie experience by allowing consumers the luxury of enjoying a movie in the comfort of their own home. It will be an interesting ride over the next decade or so to see how this connection shifts and changes.

Module 4-Disruptive Technologies

In today's society we have two paths to decide: the one where face to face interaction is inevitable and one that is virtual. In a virtual world you can create yourself, your home, office, the type of transportation you have, and the people you come in contact with...all in an instant by a few small clicks on the computer. Dr. David Thornburg states that a disruptive technology is when, "...new technology suddenly appears and creates a brand new way of thinking about a technological task." Second Life is a prime example of this path of living.

In the past few years, Second Life has replaced the need to hold actual business meetings, e-mail, or blog. Communication in Second Life is instant so feedback about any topic can be given, received, processed, and acted upon in minutes rather than months or even years.

With this new wave of virtual living the amount of time spent commuting or being away from home is minimized to the shortest amount possible. Many people are beginning to jump into this virtual world thus giving it a stay power in the vast, ever-changing world of technology.

Do I think that new things are on the forefront? Of course, minutes into the world of Second Life there were programmers adding their mark, their voice. However I feel that with the amount of people using Second Life growing each day, month, and year that it may have a longer life than expected, especially if it continues to "WOW" the people that use it.

As Second Life continues to make its mark on society we should take a minute, stand back, and decide what implications this virtual world is making. As I see it, the worlds that exist in Second Life may help those that are often too shy or unable to meet people in a face to face interaction. When you create an avatar most people are apt to exaggerate themselves and perhaps, brag if you will, on their abilities and accomplishments. This being another trait that most people would not do in a face to face scenario.

In the education industry I see Second Life as the virtual schools that are popping up. There are virtual classes from kindergarten through college that students can be involved. These classes can include those from different states and countries making for a dynamic and diverse classroom composition. All these varying backgrounds and personalities can lend to a well rounded and fruitful education experience.

**Further information can be found at http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2007/0507/076.html

Module 3-Rhymes of History Technology

Thinking about a technology that represents a rhyme in history is harder than I thought. There are so many technology items to choose from that when I think long and hard about it, do have a connection in history. As Dr. Thornburg states in his vodcast, Rhymes in History, "The affect or impact of a new development rekindles something from the distant past."

So which to discuss here...I think about all the items that I use on a daily basis: my cell phone, laptop, television, desktop, Elmo, LCD projector, SMARTboard, microwave, etc. All items have evolved to make a task easier, that represent a rhyme in history. So for this thread I will choose one that impacts all my family...television.

Television is a way to bring entertainment into your home. It enhances the entertainment experience by allowing people to be in charge of when and where they view the content. As I think back into television history I see the timeline as such: television revives the movie theater, the movie theater revives live theater, live theater revives family storytelling. Each step that entertainment has taken helps bring the entertainment closer to the people it is intended.

Module 2-Learning Community Tetrad

Emerging Technology: Cellular Phone

Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
Cellular phones allow communication to occur in all places. People are no longer tied to their homes to receive or make phone calls.

Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
Cellular phones replace the need for walkie talkies that could only receive messages from a short distance.

Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
Cellular phones bring ot mind CB radios that allowed communication from distances

Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
Cellular phones as they continue to evolve and provide many facets of communication (i.e. cameras, calendars, e-mail, movies) will eventually allow the user to project the device into their surroundings and provide a virtual world.

References:

The Future of Cell Phones – Augmented Reality. Retreived September 26, 2010 from
http://www.cell-phone-plans.net/blog/cell-phone-applications/the-future-of-cell-phones-%E2%80%93-augmented-reality/#ixzz10gJMQoA1

Module 1

Identify a current technology that has emerged in the last few years that shapes learning or productivity in your industry.

Over the past few years enVisions, a digital textbook offered by Pearson, has been introduced as a core component of our math curriculum.

What problems or challenges have been associated with this technology?

Since our district has adopted this curriculum the problems have been mostly technical. The site was down, the animation components didn't work, or teachers had problems setting up their classes. Along with the technical problems there have been challenges of teacher training. In the beginning they provided us with a one day training and then expected everyone to utilize the program effortlessly. This of course was not the case and those teachers that were frustrated two years ago, are still frustrated today.

What societal need does it meet, and what are its benefits?

I feel that this new curriculum meets the needs of society by linking home and school, digitally and by using less paper for homework thus moving towards a "greener" classroom. I think the benefits are that teachers can view their student's work form any internet connected computer, parents can see exactly what information their child is learning and how to help them, and it can be beneficial for students that are away from school due to illness or family situations.

What would make this technology even better, avoiding the pitfalls you identified?

This technology could be even better if it had an area for online chat or mobile applications.

Click here to view a blog from teachers about the components of this program.