Amy - http://edtechspecial.blogspot.com/
Soraya - http://8848soraya.blogspot.com/
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Module 4 Blog
Module 4 Blog: Second Life as a Disruptive Technology
David Thornburg described disruptive technology as a new technology that seems to come out of nowhere to replace an existing technology that has been following the normal sequence of evolution. (2009). Second Life is a virtual world where someone can create an alternate persona that interacts with others (called avatars) from all over the world. As an avatar, a person can completely change, slightly alter, or enhance their true lives in a virtual setting.
In K-12 education, Second Life could be used as a disruptive technology by providing learners a virtual world in which to explore and interact with places and people that would be physically impossible in the traditional sense. With all the budget cuts, the few trips that we were allowed to take have now been cut. Teaching in a rural area with low socio-economic cliental, the field trips allowed the school to provide life experiences that otherwise the students would not have. For example, Effingham is about a 45 minute drive from Tybee Island. Many students that I have taught have not left the county let alone been to the beach. One of the field trips that the lower grades always took was one to the beach. This trip provided the students with first hand experiences to use to draw upon in the future.
I do not believe that Second Life is a disruptive technology in the K-12 sector of education. It is such a new technology that allows students to interact with unknown avatars many parents would not allow their young children interact in this way for safety purposes. There was a sector of Second Life that was set apart for children ages 13-17 called Teen Grid. This sector was shut down December 31, 2010 after only being active for five years. Second Life stated it was due to the economics of keeping up improvements and upgrades with multiple grids. (Harrison, 2010) Since this grid was shutdown the young users are now left to interact with older users. If this grid had been able to sustain itself and could prove to be secure for young children it then could have possibility disrupted some traditional educational practices such as field trips, viewing videos of reenactments of historical events, and role playing with only the students within the four classroom walls.
Before Second Life can be disrupted by another technology it must first disrupt what is the norm in K-12 education today. I believe that Second Life has a long way to go before it becomes as useful as it is in other industries. Society still believes that education should take place with a face to face experience between teacher and students. As older generations that are still skeptical of technology fade and the new generation who are emerced in gaming takes the lead in decisions in all areas of society then Second Life and other similar technologies will have a fighting chance to prove their usefulness in education.
Blog for educators for activities using Seond Life
Harrison, D. (2010). K-12 groups stranded in second life teen grid shutdown.
The Journal, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/08/30/k-12-groups-stranded-in-second-life-teen-grid-shutdown.asp
Thornburg, D. (2009). Disruptive Technologies [Vodcast]. Laureate Education,
Inc.
David Thornburg described disruptive technology as a new technology that seems to come out of nowhere to replace an existing technology that has been following the normal sequence of evolution. (2009). Second Life is a virtual world where someone can create an alternate persona that interacts with others (called avatars) from all over the world. As an avatar, a person can completely change, slightly alter, or enhance their true lives in a virtual setting.
In K-12 education, Second Life could be used as a disruptive technology by providing learners a virtual world in which to explore and interact with places and people that would be physically impossible in the traditional sense. With all the budget cuts, the few trips that we were allowed to take have now been cut. Teaching in a rural area with low socio-economic cliental, the field trips allowed the school to provide life experiences that otherwise the students would not have. For example, Effingham is about a 45 minute drive from Tybee Island. Many students that I have taught have not left the county let alone been to the beach. One of the field trips that the lower grades always took was one to the beach. This trip provided the students with first hand experiences to use to draw upon in the future.
I do not believe that Second Life is a disruptive technology in the K-12 sector of education. It is such a new technology that allows students to interact with unknown avatars many parents would not allow their young children interact in this way for safety purposes. There was a sector of Second Life that was set apart for children ages 13-17 called Teen Grid. This sector was shut down December 31, 2010 after only being active for five years. Second Life stated it was due to the economics of keeping up improvements and upgrades with multiple grids. (Harrison, 2010) Since this grid was shutdown the young users are now left to interact with older users. If this grid had been able to sustain itself and could prove to be secure for young children it then could have possibility disrupted some traditional educational practices such as field trips, viewing videos of reenactments of historical events, and role playing with only the students within the four classroom walls.
Before Second Life can be disrupted by another technology it must first disrupt what is the norm in K-12 education today. I believe that Second Life has a long way to go before it becomes as useful as it is in other industries. Society still believes that education should take place with a face to face experience between teacher and students. As older generations that are still skeptical of technology fade and the new generation who are emerced in gaming takes the lead in decisions in all areas of society then Second Life and other similar technologies will have a fighting chance to prove their usefulness in education.
Blog for educators for activities using Seond Life
Harrison, D. (2010). K-12 groups stranded in second life teen grid shutdown.
The Journal, Retrieved from http://thejournal.com/articles/2010/08/30/k-12-groups-stranded-in-second-life-teen-grid-shutdown.asp
Thornburg, D. (2009). Disruptive Technologies [Vodcast]. Laureate Education,
Inc.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Responded to the following
Amy - http://edtechspecial.blogspot.com/
Donna - http://educ7108.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/ipad-tetrad-module-2/
Donna - http://educ7108.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/ipad-tetrad-module-2/
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Module 3 Blog Assignment - Rhymes of History
There is one piece of technology that goes with me everywhere, my flash drive. I have 3 of them that I use and keep on a ring that goes with me everywhere. I have one for Walden coursework, one for Sand Hill work, and one for personal use. Before having these flash drives I would have to have had to worry about carrying around bundles of cds, floppy disks, or going back further stacks and stacks of paper. There is no way that I could carry a briefcase that I would be able to use to carry all the data that I carry on a key ring in my purse. I think that the flash drive rekindles the ability and desire to have everything you need all the time without having to carry cumbersome files or disks. Since almost anywhere you go there is some type of computer accessing the data from the flash drives would be relatively easy. The websites that I have included in this post provide information on how to use a flash drive, creative ideas of us, and how to them to add memory to your computer.
http://bama.ua.edu/~gurle001/tutorial.htm
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/10things/?p=931
http://www.reviewsaurus.com/tips-tricks/windows-vista-use-your-flash-drive-as-ram/
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Blog Responses for Module 2
I responded to
Amy http://edtechspecial.blogspot.com/
Soraya http://8848soraya.blogspot.com/
Donna http://educ7108.wordpress.com/
Amy http://edtechspecial.blogspot.com/
Soraya http://8848soraya.blogspot.com/
Donna http://educ7108.wordpress.com/
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