Washing machines and Violence...

I think the key to thinking about diverse learners is to make sure that you do a lot of research. As Dr. Thornburg pointed out, we often take our technology for granted and it would be hard to understand a life without technology. The more research that we conduct and read, in order to understand where other people are coming from the better off we will be when we try to approach diversity within technology. There is a great Ted that this reminds me of where a man talks about the effects of having a washing machine, another technology that we take for granted.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/hans_rosling_and_the_magic_washing_machine.html

A lot of times, I think that we are unaware of what we take for granted and it is not be an elitist but there is not a lot of interest in the news or television in talking about what other people don't use on a daily basis. If we educate ourselves and others on the technologies that other cultures live without than I think we can make better decisions that are aimed to meet the needs of all people.

Another Ted that this brought to mind was about how we are failing boys in our schools and how video games could really help mind this gap.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ali_carr_chellman_gaming_to_re_engage_boys_in_learning.html

I found this Ted very interesting and I think about it a lot when kids ask to write or perform different topics...even if I am not interested in violence, why should I stop them from writing or performing a piece that allows them to be engaged in my class.

Off with your head!!!

* When you decided to obtain a DVD for your science fiction assignment in Module 4, where did you go to find a movie based on a Philip K. Dick book? Did you rent or purchase a DVD, or did you view it digitally on your computer using Netflix or a similar vendor of video on demand?
I used Netflix streaming to watch my movie. About a month ago, I got rid of cable and started watching all my TV and movie content via Netflix and Hulu Plus. It has been an interesting adjustment but I am enjoying the cost benefits.



* Is the current competition between DVDs and video on demand an example of increasing returns or Red Queens? Justify your response with sound reasoning and specific examples.
I think that the competition between video on demand and DVDs is an example of increasing returns. I think this because of the recent articles about Netflix having to go through contract renewals with the big film industries. The same thing that happened with Panasonic could happen with Netflix if they do not negotiate a deal for content. I am enjoying my Hulu and Netflix accounts but there are still things that I want that they do not provide. DVDs have the market as far as content goes but now it is all about accessibility and that is a huge factor. I think DVDs will disappear and everything will be about VODs, this is why it is not a Red Queen, I really do not think that both industries will survive. The VOD industry offers rentals, on demand and permanent digital movies so the true test will be about who gets the most content licenses.


* Where do you think DVDs and video on demand are on the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad?

Enhances- instant sharing of media content
Obsoletes- TV Shows
Rekindle- Live performance
Reverses- all the content being available in one location

Module 4: Disrupting Life in a Second

* How is Second Life a disruptive technology?
Second Life is a disruptive technology because it combined a series of functions together that served the purposes of entertainment, invention, imagination, social interaction and financial gains and did it in one encompassing environment. Second Life provided a service that was free and that sped up the adoption process because cost was never a factor. Second Life still presented an open ended learning environment where there was never an ending point but game like sensations were still a result of the user. There is also a competitive element in making goods and building items.


* What technology or innovation did it displace?
Second life displaced SIMs games and IMing softwares. Second Life is a much more intricate version of SIMs and would attract the same population of people. The ability to communicate in real time with avatars displaces the need for IM.


* How many years do you think Second Life has left before another emerging technology or disruptive technology replaces it?

Second Life will be replaced soon. Second Life has been around for quite a while and now that it has really emerged, I think copy-cat programs are going to start becoming available. After all these additional programs start to emerge, they will offer additional functions and eventually replace Second Life because of a new need that is met.


* What are the social benefits of Second Life, and what might be the social implications of virtual worlds in your industry?

Second Life provides social benefits because it allows people to be socially successful in a way that they cannot in real life. Phillip Rosedale, talks about being able to create things in a virtual world that you cannot create in the real world, due to time, money and supplies. Second life in its "anything is possible" philosophy allows users to create new identities that might better match the perspective that we have of ourselves versus the perception of others.
The age restriction makes Second Life not viable for my students at this time but at the college level, I think it is an impressive educational tool. I worked on a project about Second Life last summer and I was quite impressed by what students can do on Second Life. Socially students can travel through places that they may never really see, meet people from all over the world and have virtual f2f classroom environment. Here is the video that I made: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsS1K945Yy8













http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html

Nomads beget Facebook

www.facebook.com



Facebook is a great social networking tool that has helped shaped our communication and socialization. This tool allows people to connect remotely and form groups, communities and interests through a multitude of ways. This rekindles our society's movement from nomads to civilizations. Civilizations allowed people to form relationships, communities and connect with people that had similar interests. The need for humans to connect with one another is an inherent need and building communities helps to fulfill that need. As our needs continue to diversify, a large network of community members is needed to meet those needs. Facebook has allowed people to do that on a much grander scale. I am an avid facebooker and I am not sure that I would be as involved in causes, distant friend's lives and community projects and news.

Module 2 Comments

I made comments on Richard's and Stephen's blogs.

iPad

Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?

This technology is ever-changing. Most of the iPad features are not new...but they simplify and create an ease for the user. Making dinner reservations is three button clicks away, a video conference call can be made from anywhere, learning is on the go with APs that allow kids to review test material on a tablet.

Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?

This technology will eventually replace or encompass...phones, computers, iPods, G.P.S. devices, video cameras, cameras and alarm clocks! This technology has the power to engulf many handheld devices and I am sure as the technology expands so will the devices that the iPad can replace.

Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?

Back in the days of the one room school house...students had tablets that were made of slate and they used them to interact in the classroom. This tablet only held a certain amount of information but its portable use made it a great asset to the olden day's classroom.

Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?

In the future, I think this tablet will just be holographic or projectiopn based. I think that we will communicate with it using hands and our brain functionality more than just touch screens.

Module 1

The technology that I think has emerged in the past few years is the electronic book.

Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b?ie=UTF8&node=133141011

The problems that I think are associated with this technology are cost, accessibility and training. There are many cost elements involved with the electronic book, the first is the unit (be it kindle or nook) and the next is the book. In the long run, the unit and ebooks will be a savings to the district that chooses to fully adopt these books for their student's learning. In the future, students can access all their school books on one small electronic device. Cost will also come into play for students who lose their electronic book unit. The accessibility factor comes into play with books and course documents. I think the electronic book is an emerging technology but I am surprise how little educational texts are available in ebook format. School districts are going to be reluctant to spend money on a device that does not give them access to all their texts. I am often VERY frustrated as a student that I cannot find ebooks for my Kindle that I can read for my Walden classes, especially given the subject matter that we are studying, we should be the guinea pigs. Lastly, training is always an issue. Even though I feel that most of these electronic book units are pretty easy to navigate, they are only going to get more intricate and by the time that schools adopt them there will most defiantly be a learning curve.

The society needs are that students are nomadic after school and need a portable device that can help them be successful while they are waiting on the bench, at dance class or hanging out after Hebrew school. These devices allow students to be learners on the go and that is a natural fit with their lifestyle. I also think that soon electronic books are going to have a social network aspect to them. Kids will be connected on the device and be able to leave notes in the text that others can view and comment on. I think this will be a huge boost for learning and I can't wait to see the effects that it is going to have on kids socially.

The big issue with this technology that could help it be adopted faster is if it comes down in price. I think the books are not going to change in price but the ebook units need to have multiple versions that offer an array of options, including different pricing.