As a learning community, we decided to explore the Nook Color E-Reader from Barnes & Noble.  This device is an emerging technology that has gone through a series of changes to become what it is now.  As McLuhan (2009) indicated, tetrads can grow as clusters or as chains.  The Nook Color would be a part of a chain because it continues to evolve by making improvements within itself.  The following is a tetrad regarding the Nook Color E-Reader:

Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?

This device allows us to carry an enormous amount of reading material with us without dealing with the cumbersome job of literally carrying it with us. According to the Barnes & Noble website (2011), this device has a built in Wi-Fi to surf the web, provides free social sharing of books, has the ability to store and listen to music, and is the first device that provides color to enhance our reading material.

Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?

This technology replaces the need to carry or make traditional books and text books, the need to have traditional libraries, traditional music or book stores, the need to have mp3 players and iPods, and the original Nook or Kindle.

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

It brings to mind clay tablets, which were the first forms of books. It also brings to mind the papyrus manuscripts from Ancient Egypt.

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

A solar powered/alternate battery source to improve the Nook’s battery life may replace this technology. With only about an 8 hr built-in battery source and only 800 MHz processor, the Nook will not allow you to read or surf the web for very long without carrying a charger everywhere with you (Barnes & Noble, 2011). This requires you to mooch off someone else’s power source to remain operational. Maybe the Nook can develop a battery source that absorbs the excess energy projected off objects around it in order to extend its own battery life.


Resources:
Barnes & Noble. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nookcolor/reviews/index.asp?cds2Pid=35607 on March 30, 2011.


Barnes & Noble. 2011. Retrieved from http://www.barnesandnobleutm_term=nook&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Nook%20Top&isIndexPage=1&cm_mmc=Google-_-Nook%20Top-_-Nook%20General%20-%20Exact-_-Nook&cm_mmca1=44743a65-3493-59e8-6269-000053eb2947 on March 30, 2011.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore: Author.

"The constantly changing landscape of educational technology can be thought of as a series of transactions from older tools to newer ones" (Thornburg, 2009). With Thornburg's words in mind, we too are facing many transformations at my school when it comes to integrating new technology. One of the most prevalent changes is the incorporation of the document camera. Even though there are many types of document cameras being integrated, the most popular brand is the ELMO and can be located at http://www.elmousa.com/index.php.

What needs does the document cameras meet in our school? Document cameras not only let you project information and books on to SmartBoards, but they also let teachers move the camera's arm to project from different angles. As the arm moves, it allows the camera to show views of the object's side, front, and top positions just by making slight adjustments. Secondly, document cameras allow teachers to zoom in and out on an object or perform tasks, like experiments, live so the entire room can see them at the same time. As the teacher manipulates the arm, more students are able to see the demonstration without getting in each other's way or moving up to the front. In addition, document cameras are able to connect to a microscope and go into "microscope mode" so everyone can see magnified images on a slide. Being able to see microscope images as a class, allows teacher to cut down on the expense of buying a classroom set of microscopes and slides.

 

In addition to positive effects, there are some negative aspects of document cameras. First, some of the document cameras are only being used as glorified overhead projectors even when they can do so much more. Teachers are only focusing on their simplicity rather than their ability to be an interactive tool. To fix this problem, we can provide training for teachers on how to use it in more interactive ways. In addition, the ones that we have at our school tie teachers to one place in the classroom. They do not allow teachers to walk around the room and monitor students' progress as they complete assignments. This problem has a solution, but it requires another type of innovation called a slate. Purchasing this tool would cost extra money to purchase and time to train teachers on how to use them. Lastly, the only other negative aspect of the document cameras is the fact that we do not have enough money in our budget this year for everyone at our school to have one in their classrooms because of their price. Although we have several documents camera at our school, I hope that we will continue to integrate their innovativeness within our classrooms.

 

Thornburg, D. D. (2009a). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.