Module 1 Assignment Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

Module 1 Assignment Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

          An emerging technology over the last few years that supports learning and productivity are local storage drives or USB flash drives. Many teachers and students use flash drives to store their assignments and information. Dr. Thornburg (2013b) states that rotating media drives such as flash drives continue their advancement in capabilities as an alternate technology. 

Even though educators and students use flash drives regularly, there are still challenges that continue when comparing flash drives with traditional hard drives. Thornburg (2013b) states that flash drives in comparison with computer hard drives (a) are much higher in cost/bit, (b) have smaller total storage capacity, (c) limited number of read/write cycles. Other concerns from educators are that students forget to bring their flash drives to school on a daily basis. Even though the cost for flash drives continues to go down, they can still be costly, and not all students have access to the devices.

The emerging technology supports social organizations such as schools. Dr. Thornburg (2013b) notes that the memory device on the flash drive uses little power, it is light weight and continues to drop in price. Designers continue to add memory onto the device. Flash drives also allow users to spare the use of precious memory from their hard drive.  

Although USB flash drives allow users to store continuous information, the devices may still carry an encryption weakness. Clipper (2009) notes Kingsley-Hughes report that the primary producers of the flash drives will have to recall or update their software. Users will need to check their drives and proceed cautiously with sensitive data. Another pitfall is that the strength of the USB flash drives may also be their weakness. The drives are small in order to assist portability. They are also easy to lose.

URL: http://www.ehow.com/list_5860311_disadvantages-usb-flash-drive.html

 

Over the summer, The Montgomery County Public School System rolls out their Strategic Technology Plan for 2014 – 2016. The plan describes the multiple year efforts to provide all students with access to mobile computers within a cloud-based learning platform to enhance student creativity and promote student collaboration. Thornburg (2013b) says that providers such as Dropbox and Google Drive, allow users to store their data in the “cloud." All students within the county school system will be able to setup their cloud accounts through Google. Rogers (2003) points out that clarifying of an emerging technology takes place during implementation. Members within the organization will begin to gradually to define meaning with the new idea. Students in grades three, five, and six, as well as those in high school social studies classes, will begin using the technology in the classroom during the 2014-2015 school year. 

Creating 21^st Century Learning Spaces

URL: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/technology/technologyplan.aspx

References

Clipper, A. (2009). The disadvantages of a USB flash drive. EHow. 

Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/list_5860311_disadvantages-usb-flash-drive.html

Montgomery County Public Schools. (2014). Office of the chief technology officer – 21

century learning  strategic technology plan. Retrieved from http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/technology/technologyplan.aspx

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.) New York, NY: Free Press.

Thornburg, D. (2013b). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL:

Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.