Dispruptive Power

The disruptive power of Second Life is on the downturn of the bell curve, which means it has lost power and is on the downhill slide.  Like so many technologies the initial hype and excitement create a buzz.  If the buzz is not sustained by what the target market needs and wants then the peak of disruption begins the downward slope.  According to Au, Second Life has lost steam because it failed to pay attention to what the application was being used for. Linden Lab claimed that SL was not a game, but the overwhelming majority of users used it as a game(Au, 2013).  According to Christensen a disruptive technology does something that industry leaders are already doing, but a an affordable price.  For example, the personal computer was a disruptive technology for the mainframe computer  (Christensen, 2008).   In the case of Second Life it could have disruptive power for education if it provides an inexpensive application that can be used as an educational tool.  It also has to be less time consuming to be useful in the classroom.  Companies overshoot what consumers can use (Christensen, 2002).
Blended learning is a disruptive technology interrupts the business model of curriculum supplies of textbooks, paper, and the brick and motor schools. Blended learning allows learning to be developed online without textbooks by using digital resources, which are supply unlimited access to education at little or no cost. The blended learning environment is a sustaining technology.

MIT Video - The Innovation Economy: How Technology Is Transforming Existing Industries and Creating New Ones

References:

Au, Wagner (2013). Second Life turns 10: what it did wrong and why it may have its secod life. Retrieved from: https://gigaom.com/2013/06/23/second-life-turns-10-what-it-did-wrong-and-why-it-will-have-its-own-second-life/

Christensen, C. (2002). The innovation economy: How technology is transforming existing industries and creating new ones [Video]. Retrieved fromhttp://video.mit.edu/watch/the-innovation-economy-how-technology-is-transforming-existing-industries-and-creating-new-ones-9844/

Christensen, Clayton (2008). Disrupting Class:  How disruptive innovation will change the way the world learns.  New York, NY. McGraw Hill.

Commented to:

Cottrell Davis

Robin Lemire

The Next 5000 days

Rhymes of History Future Evolution of Connection

How will the Internet evolve over the next 5000 days?  According to Kelly the future of the Internet and how we connect and share data will be transformed as everything will have a place on the Internet. He further states total transparency is necessary for the process of giving everything data space (Kelly, 2007).  I wonder whether world will be ready for total transparency?  what I have noticed from social networking is that the younger generation have no problem with transparency, but older generations are not eager to share every detail of their lives.  I for one (I am older) post very little personal information.  I suppose this is a "Ry me of History" as referred to by Thornberg (Laurette, 2009). I think it is much like using a Social Security number as a unique identifier, but the data identifier placed on a specific location in the cloud will be much more complex as it will show how everything relates to all the components of connection.  I think of the chair I am sitting in at this particular time, If this was the future you could click on my link and find out I am sitting on a chair, the chair is linked to a table that is linked to the computer I am typing on, and we are all linked to the Startbucks I am sitting in.  I wonder if you know what I am typing or what I am thinking?

The Next 5000 Days

Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved fromhttp://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Laurete Education, Inc. (2009).  Emerging and future technologies: Rhymes of History.  

Responded To: 

http://randompinkrain.wordpress.com/2014/09/25/tetrad-of-brain-command-interfaces/comment-page-1/#comment-12

http://cottrellsidblog.blogspot.com/2014/10/rhymes-of-history-technology.html?showComment=1413165722638#c1100592031752975458

Emerging Technology

Emerging Technology

Paper lines the closet as less and less is being used.  Last year their was an initiative to print less by using more online applications to deliver instruction.  Printers are not being used as they once where and many models have become obsolete.  The goal is to print less and less.  Many teachers have been using the computer lab more and utilizing flash drives and network drives for storage and distribution of lesson materials. However, that has not been very effective, because access is limited to the school network, which cannot be accessed anywhere nor anytime by the students. The flash drive is also a problem when it becomes lost or damaged causing availability of the flash drive contents to be compromised.  I am interested in presenting the school with an emerging technology, which is the Google Classroom.  Myself and one other teacher are using the application this year.  This is the first year it has been available to use in our school.  This is a learning management system that allows a blended learning environment.  The following link is a how to video with instructors for creating a Google Classroom:  

•  Among the current technology of Web 2.0 tools is the availability of mobile technology.  Many students have smart phones and can access powerful applications to utilize the web tools and the online classroom.  As Thornburg points out many schools are still banning student devices.   He further states that a better approach would be to utilize the student devices as educational tools (Thornburg, 2009). 
• Many of the teachers have one or two computers in the classroom and would fail to see the benefit of using the online classroom, however many students have their own devices that could be utilized in the classroom.  
• The Google Classroom addresses 21st century learning and collaboration.  Students learn the way the world operates in a social media environment.
• Using Google classroom to post assignments and project even when computers are limited gives parents access to what is going on in the classroom.  Google Classroom also helps students stay connected when they are out of the building.

See this video featuring the why of the Google classroom

To Create your Google Classroom view the following:

Reference:

Google  (2014). Learn more:YouTube video retrieved from:  

http://google.com/edu/classroom

Google. (2014)  YouTube video. Classroom 101. retrieved from:

http://google.com/edu/classroom

Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Current trends in educational technology. Lake 

Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.


Commented to

Cottrell Davis

Robin Lemire

PII

Performance Improvement Intervention (PII)

Stanley Middle School

Problem Summary: The learning environment and classroom design is not conducive to 21st learning.  It is designed for the factory model of learning to output  a product that would fit the industrial needs of society. (Toffler, 2010). 

Background of Organization: 

• The school was built around 1940 
• Located in Stanley, NC
• Currently serves middle school students 
• Information needed to improve learning would be 21st learning designs, data on student skills and abilities, data on 21st century learning, financial cost of new design and new software. 
• School Website: http://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/schools/stanley/Pages/welcome.aspx
• Some data is a matter of public records and I would have access to my own student data.

Stakeholders and Decision Makers

• Students and Teacher would both be affected by the new learning design
• The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction are responsible for classroom  design and curriculum design.  Other policy makers include North Carolina Legislators.  Also Important to implementation of a new learning environment are local educational leaders, community leaders, and Parents.
• Key personnel in the organization that can provide  insights into the performance problem Are the Administration, Technology Facilitators, and Teachers. 

References 

Toffler, A. (2008).  Toffler on Education. YouTube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04AhBnLk1-s