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.
Tabitha
ReplyDeleteI agree that using Second Life in my classroom seems impossible and dangerous at the moment, but carrying the Internet around in my pocket also seemed impossible a few years ago. As we continue to study emerging and disruptive technologies, I am learning that we should never underestimate the impossible. Before we retire as teachers, our students could login in as Second Life residents, collaborate, and build the technology of the future.
I too live and teach in a rural area in Ga and I also thought that Srcond Life would be agood tool for field trips. However, I still feel like students need some real life face to face interaction. For example, the beach trip your studetns take. With Second Life they could take a trip to the beach but could they feel the sand in their toes or the water slplah on their face. I am a big backer of technology in education but sometimes I feel like the next generation is so detached and do not know how to interact with others and I beleive some of this is becasue of sitting in front of digital media. Do you feel the same?
ReplyDeleteDonna,
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way. Children are looseing their "people skills" because they spend so much time emerced in media. I have been having technology problems with my middle school son. He always has some kind of technology in hand or in front of him. Virtual gaming and Facebook are the biggest issues right now. I just think if he could use the excuse of "I have to do it for school" he would never leave the computer. He used to go outside and play basketball all the time. Now he goes into withdrawl if I take Modern Warfare from him. We are having to find a balance for his use of technology. I know that is a little off the subject, but I know I am not the only parent that would feel that way.
Face to face interaction is a dying art that needs to be rekindled. (In my opinion)