Module
1 – Blog Post Discussion
Identify
a current technology that has emerged in the last few years that shapes
learning or productivity in your industry.
A current technology that has emerged in the last
few years that helps to shape learning in education is the Amazon Kindle DX.
This emerged technology is designed to make reading magazines and textbooks
easy for students to read. The Horizon Report (2010) cited that an advantage
for students is to have a single handheld reading device that can easily accommodate
the entirety of reading involved in one’s study coupled with referencing texts
(p. 18). Thornburg (2009) emphasized that a successful technology adoption
comes from individuals aware of the options and knowing enough to form an
opinion based on personal experiences.What problems or challenges have been associated with this technology?
The Kindle DX is very expensive at the price of $379.00. It might be difficult and not as effective to use because like the iphone, ipad or a tablet, they have a touch screen; whereas the Kindle DX does not have a touch screen. Although it is not a serious problem, at times, it is difficult to thumb-type on the tiny-buttoned keyboard.
What social need does it meet, and what are its benefits?
The social need that the Kindle DX met was that it allowed students to use a textbook in an entirely different way from the regular hardcover textbook. For example, students can highlight, post notes, save the information as a text file, and then download to their computer. Assessment exams are a major issue in our system; therefore, students can focus primarily on their reading without surfing the Internet for pictures, images, games, and other distractions.
What would make this technology even better, avoiding the pitfalls you identified?
It needs to be more appealing and user friendly. Although it has 4GB of memory which stores about 3,500 books, it could be condense to a smaller size, some color added to its display screen, and purchased at a less expensive price. Thornburg (2012) stressed that the use of technology in a classroom setting, will provide students with the opportunity to begin to know the value of what they are learning. He argued that students will think about a topic in a different way and learn to achieve educational goals in a powerful new way.
Link to the website:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GYWHSQ/ref=famstripe_kkdx
References
George Lucas Foundation (Edutopia). 2012. [Video]. David Thornburg on the evolving classroom: Big thinkers series. http://www.edutopia.org/david-thornburg-future-classroom-video
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). What is emerging technology? Baltimore, MD: Author.
The Horizon Report. (2010). A collaboration between the New Media Consortium and the Educause Learning Initiative.
Module 1: Identify an Emerged Technology
I responded to the following community members:
Kevin Klein
http://kklein66.wordpress.com/
Cecil Mittoo
Michele,
ReplyDeleteI have heard of students in the classroom having iPads. Are the kindles just as popular? I can see where the keyboard can cause problems because of the tiny keyboard. I can barely see it on the picture. I personally cannot foresee the Kindle taking the place of textbooks any time soon. Does your school have Kindles? Do you think that they are preferable over the iPad?
Tracy
Tracy,
ReplyDeleteTo address you question, currently my school does not have Kindles. Again, it depends on the use of the technology and the method presented in using it. Mayer (2009)revealed that multimedia learning is based on the idea that instructional messages should be designed in light of how the human mind works (p. 6). He emphasized that the quantitative rationale is when more material can be presented on two channels than on one channel. Consequently, the qualitative rationale is when words and pictures can complement one another and that human understanding occurs when learners are able to mentally integrate corresponding pictorial and verbal representations (pp. 6-7).
Reference
Mayer, R. E. (2009). Multi-media Learning. (2nd ed). Cambridge University Press.
Michele