Module 2 Assignment
Blog Post on Emerging Technologies Tetrad
There is an expectation for leaders
in educational technology to be aware of new emerging technologies. Thornburg
(2013e) examines Marshall McLuhan’s Laws of Media, which seek to answer
questions that form a tetrad of the four laws of media. The first law extends
or amplifies a technology to do something new (Laureate Education, 2014f;
Thornburg, 2013e). The second law demonstrates obsolescence, where a new
technology will drive and supersede an old technology (Laureate Education,
2014f; Thornburg, 2013e). The third law is retrieval which rekindles something
from the past (Laureate Education, 2014f; Thornburg, 2013e). The fourth law is
reversal to help set the stage for a technology replacement (Laureate
Education, 2014f; Thornburg, 2013e).
Holography is an emerging technology
which enables users to make three-dimensional images. Holograms use a laser,
diffraction, light intensity recording and illumination. The image appears three-dimensional
as the viewing system changes the position and orientation of the image. Walsh
(2012, November) projects holograms as being the next step forward towards the
evolution of technology. There is a projection that the use of holographic
telepresence will bring digital participants and remote location to classrooms
with the use of three-dimensional technology.
synchronously to students anywhere in the country. Holograms will allow educators to bring their content to life. Learners can experience sites and sounds during instruction that can enhance their classroom learning (Walsh, 2012 November).
Figure 1
Emerging Technology – Holograms
Enhances –
Allows experts and facilitators the ability to illustrate processes live, and in person
Allows instructors to deliver lectures to multiple classrooms, anywhere, simultaneously
Allows experts to deliver a new dimension to instructional content.
Obsoletes –
Need to use overhead projectors, whiteboards, chalkboards, filming projectors, digital and video tape players, and possibly interactive whiteboards
Retrieves/Rekindles –
Ability for teachers to promote teacher to student discourse
Ability to rekindle pedagogical practices that promote cognitive learning
Ability for teachers to facilitate rich classroom discussions and clarification
Reverses –
Into three-dimensional simulations to for teaching physical world concepts to students
As an emerging technology, holograms allow experts such as facilitators to model and demonstrate a strategy without having to be in a classroom. The instructors deliver instruction
Holograms obsolete the need for overhead projectors, whiteboards, chalkboards, filming projectors, digital and video tape players. Holograms may eventually replace interactive whiteboards. A three-dimensional presence can enhance the learner’s instructional experience.
Holograms retrieve the ability to promote learner engagement. Teachers can use the three-dimensional models to promote teacher to student discourse. Modeling the features from three-dimensional objects allows teachers to rekindle pedagogical practices that promote cognitive learning. Holograms will allow students to demonstrate and also model what they know. The features allow teachers to facilitate rich classroom discussions and clarification.
Holograms may reverse into three-dimensional simulations. Two-dimensional computer simulations already exist to support students in focusing on a particular task. Imagine being able to provide holographic simulations where students can interact with three-dimensional objects that models a real world environment.
In the medical field holography is providing the world with the first
3D holographic display and interface system, initially for medical imaging
applications.
References
Laureate
Education (Producer). (2014f). David Thornburg: McLuhan’s Tetrad [Video
file].
Module 1 Assignment Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology
An emerging
technology over thelastfewyears
that supportslearningandproductivity
are localstoragedrivesor
USB flashdrives.
Manyteachersandstudentsuseflashdrives
to store
their assignmentsandinformation.
Dr. Thornburg (2013b) statesthatrotatingmediadrivessuch
as flashdrivescontinue
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.
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.
