Integrating Technology into a Fables lesson

Over the course of a the past two weeks, I have been working with my 2nd grade students on a language arts lesson that I wanted to use our technology standards too. So, I took the writing components of the lesson and extended the lesson to incorporate technology as the finished product. The result of these lessons were: students wrote a fable, students illustrated their fable, students recorded their fable (technology), and students typed their fable their fable.

As a surprise to the students I am compiling their work to create a classroom Fables movie. This movie will be used to demonstrate to other teachers especially primary grade teachers that technology can be used in their classroom.

At this time I am unable to share the movie with the public because we are checking county protocol for personal presentation. I soon as I have permission I will gladly share this wonderful experience with you.

Ring in the new year

It has been a long time since I've blogged, but I have decided to ring in this year with consist blogging about technology and lessons I am learning in my classroom using technology. Take this journey with me. I plan to share with you every month at least.

Happy Tech-ing in the new year

Red Queens

When I went through the process of deciding how I would obtain the movie Blade; I thought about the following: (1) how can I get the movie quickly and (2) finding the movie without having to go out of my way to get it. This resulted in me renting the movie via a digital download.
DVD's are becoming obsolete, however the need for recorded entertainment remains. Thus providing growth for digital downloads and rentals or on demand experiences. The evolution from DVD's to digital access to media is a red queens event. I say this because digital media is the adaptation of DVD's. This adaption will allow rented, downloadable,or on demand access to media that was previously only available on DVD.

In McLuchan's tetrad, I would place DVD's in the rekindling/retrieves section of the tetrad because new technology has taken away the need of the hardware but the desire and need for the sevice is relevant. Digital media would be placed in the enhancment section of the tetrad because this technology builds upon the technology of the DVD's. It takes the development of the internet and streaming abilites and repackages the media found on DVD's to the format of these technologies.

Disruptive Technology

A disruptive technology is defined as an innovation that improves a product or service in ways that the market does not expect (Langson Energy, 2012). Second life is a disruptive technology because it has taken the technologies of the internet, avatars, distant learning, and virtual worlds; and combined them to create a new age learning environment. Thornburg (2009) explained disruptive technologies as completely new tools that change how things are done, and are not gradual extensions of older technologies. Disruptive technologies bring about the changes that come with little or no warning. Second life challenges the need for brick and mortar classrooms that would reduce the need or use of a multitude of other technologies such as the Promethean board.  With the rapid changes in technology and the ability to use cameras on both computers and mobile devices Second Life may also be on the verge of being replaced by Google+ Hangout. Members can communicate, view each other, and share material such as videos and articles with the group.  Google+ does not limit individuals to the use of their computer it can be utilized via mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.

With all the challenges that education faces Second Life and Google+ provide additional avenues to provide education to students of all age groups. In the state of Georgia there are some online state approve K-12 education providers such as K12.com and Georgia Cyber Academy. These are new ways the state is looking to provide education for students outside of the traditional classroom setting. Second Life and Google+ can help online providers of education find additional ways to communicate and share with students.  I look forward to what new technologies are to come.

References:

Irodriguezetc. (2009, October 29). Second Life as a Disruptive Technology in Education. Retrieved from The Next Step in Education: http://lrodriguezetc.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/second-life-as-a-disruptive-technology-in-education/

Langson Energy. (2012, July 20). Gas Pressure to Green Engery. Retrieved from Disruptive Technology Zone: http://www.langsonenergy.com/faqs-2/what-is-disruptive-technology

Nuthall, K. (2008, January 20). US: A Disruptive Technology Arrives. Retrieved from Univeristy World News: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080117162121373

Solis, B. (2012, April 16). Disruptive Technology and How to Compete for the Future. Retrieved from BrianSolis.com: http://www.briansolis.com/2012/04/disruptive-technology-and-how-to-compete-for-the-future/

Tyan, D. (2008, March 19). The 10 Most Disruptive Technology Combinations. Retrieved from PCWorld: http://www.pcworld.com/article/143474-5/the_10_most_disruptive_technology_combinations.html

Thornburg, D. (2009). Evolutionary technology Vodcast: In Laureate Education, Inc. Emerging and future technology.

Rhymes of History

As communities strive to become more eco-friendly rhymes of history are bound to present themselves. This is because the need for the technology remains but how this technology utilizes power is the driving forces of change. The technology that brings this ideal to the forefront is transportation. The need for transportation remains, so the need for change is fuel driven. transportation ha.. always been a part of human life whether by foot or via some man-made vehicle. Over the centuries transportation has developed into planes, trains, and automobiles. The plane was invented by Orville and Wilbur Wright (also known as the Wright Brothers), in1903. The steam engine train was invented in first century A.D. by Heron of Alexandria, but was not utilized; this technology was ahead of its time. The automobile was invented in 1769 by Nicolas Joseph Cugnot, this invention changed how individuals traveled and how long it took them to get to distant places.

Today,commercial trains and planes continue to utilize the same fuels: coal and high octane fuel. However, mass transit systems and cars are undergoing fuel development. So, although these technologies are new they rekindle vehicle development. With the growing number of fuel types the industry is striving to find the best fuel to provide for the future: diesel fuel, electric fuel, hybrid cars, bio fuels, liquefied petroleum gas, natural gas, and hydrogen fuel cell.

Links:
The Green Car Website at http://www.thegreencarwebsite.co.uk/blog/index.php/a-guide-to-green-car-fuel-types/

Tetrad for 3D Display

McLuhan's Tetrad for 3D displays

Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?

3D technology is not new it was developed in the late 1890’s by many different individuals:  William Friese-Greene, Etienne-Jules Marey and Louis Aime’ Augustin Le Prince. This new hardware began the stereoscopic era of motion pictures. However, this form of film was not widely excepted or produced because it was expensive to create. In this new era of 3D film IMAX lead the way, using 3D films as educational tools which allowed for mathematical correctness.

Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?

3D technology has the ability to replace 2D displays for television, computers, video games, and cinemas.

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

This technology brings to mind the stereoscopic motion pictures and the equipment needed to create them. This brings to mind that 3D films previously were highly expensive to create and with the resurgence of 3D films that the cost may have come down.

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

This technology may be replaced by virtual display. Televisions, computers, video games, and cinema may soon have virtual displays for audience to participate in the experiences of the entertainment.

Hayes, J. (2011, January 14). "You see them WITH glasses!"...A Short History of 3D Movies. Retrieved from Widescreen Movies Magazine: http://www.widescreenmovies.org/WSM11/3D.htm

Emerging Technology

From the raising of hands to the click of a button

For centuries students and participants responded to the teacher’s or presenter’s questions by raising their hand. Teachers would quiz their students utilizing multiple methods such as quizzes, tests, tickets out the door, or by having students respond to questions at the end of sections of the text. New technology has been developed to now provide teachers and students instant feedback; these devices are called student response devices. Teachers or presenters can provide students or participants with a question; each individual can respond to the question utilizing the method the method provided likert, multiple choice, numeric, sequential order, and others.

There are many companies that provide student response devices: SMART, Promethean, Qwizdom, H-itt, eInstruction, and many more. These companies provide these devices at varying price points. Some of these companies also provide professional development to help new users effectively utilize these new educational tools.

This technology also has research and articles to support its use with participants or students such as:

Educause Learning Initiative. (2005, May). 7 things you should know about...Clickers. Retrieved from University of Wisconsin Milwaukee: http://www4.uwm.edu/Itc/srs/faculty/docs/7things.pdf

Immerwahr, J. (2012, June 12). "Clicker"--Student Response Devices. Retrieved from Teach Philosophy 101: http://www.teachphilosophy101.org/Default.aspx?tabid=155

Manzo, K. K. (2009, June 17). Student-Response Systems Provide Instant Classroom Feedback. Retrieved from Education Week Digital Directions: http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2009/06/17/04feedback.h02.html

Roger C. Lowery, P. (2005, March 16). Retrieved from Teaching and learning with Interactive Student Response Systems: A Comparison of Commercial Products in the Higher-Education Market: http://people.uncw.edu/lowery/swssa%20ms.pdf

William R. Penuel, V. C. (n.d.). sri.com. Retrieved from Teaching with Student Response System Technology: A Survey of K-12 Teachers: http://www.ctl.sri.com/publications/downloads/Teaching_with_Audience_Response_Systems_Brief_Report.pdf