The Digital Divide
As a leader in educational technology, what can I do to help make emerging technologies valuable to others, while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity?
In order to do so, we must first understand the group of people as a whole. We must identify their needs and how the emerging technologies can best be utilized to meet those needs. Once those needs are identified, we can then devise a plan to meet those needs. In my classroom, I have students with IEP’s. The accommodations that I make allow them to learn and participate in grade level material by level the proverbial playing field so my students can have their needs met. Once we identify gender, cultural, and socioeconomic needs, then we can create an individualize plan to meet their needs with the emerging technologies.
Secondly, to make emerging technologies valuable to others, our primary focus cannot be on the device. Getting the device or innovation into everyone’s hand is good, but it is not the entire solution because the devices are useless without a person using it. As Dr. Thornburg suggested, we cannot “…do it by giving them a bunch of technology and software and then leaving them alone” (Thornburg, 2009). They will need support and guidance while trying to meet their needs. We must find a way to create an infrastructure that supports them after the device is in their hands. By doing so, we can ensure the emerging technologies continue to meet the learner’s needs while maintaining gender, cultural, and socioeconomic sensitivity.
Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore: Author.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Red Queen or Increasing Returns?
When we were first notified that we had to watch a DVD of a movie that I did not own, I first asked my mom because she has collected videos for years. However, when I couldn’t find it there, I checked Redbox movies and Walmart to see if they had it. Eventually, I had to turn to Netflix to find the movie online. Renting Blade Runner was the first time I had ever watched a movie digitally using my laptop, and now it probably will not be my last.
I believe that the current competition between DVDs and video on demand is an example of Red Queens simply because of the fierce competition between the two types of technology (Thornburg, 2009). Essentially, these two technologies allow people to rent movies in their homes instead of going out of the house to get it from a store. By promoting their essential details and competing to be the best they have suddenly moved ahead of Blockbuster, Movie World, and other movie rental places.
Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
This technology allows people to watch movie from any computer, from any place, and at anytime. With our ever-changing schedules, this tool gives us the opportunity to watch movies even when the rest of the world is sleeping.
Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
This technology replaces the need for movie rental stores. It replaces the need to rush back to return the movie at the last minute before the store closes in order to avoid a late fee as well.
Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
This technology brings to mind peoples need for entertainment. At first, it was stories by a campfire to teach the tribes history and rituals, and then we moved to entertainment by radio. Next, we were able to bring about television show (first black/white and then in color). Lastly, it brings to mind movies showing at local movie theaters.
Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
One thing that might replace this technology is if local theaters cease to exist and entirely new movies can be beamed directly into our living rooms. With the increasing speed of internet connections downloads are clearer and quicker than ever. In addition, with the use of portable projectors (like the ones in our classes) people have the ability to watch movies with their neighborhoods on the side of their houses. The only new thing would be instant access to movie premieres.
I believe that the current competition between DVDs and video on demand is an example of Red Queens simply because of the fierce competition between the two types of technology (Thornburg, 2009). Essentially, these two technologies allow people to rent movies in their homes instead of going out of the house to get it from a store. By promoting their essential details and competing to be the best they have suddenly moved ahead of Blockbuster, Movie World, and other movie rental places.
Enhances: What does this technology do that is new?
This technology allows people to watch movie from any computer, from any place, and at anytime. With our ever-changing schedules, this tool gives us the opportunity to watch movies even when the rest of the world is sleeping.
Obsoletes: What does this technology replace?
This technology replaces the need for movie rental stores. It replaces the need to rush back to return the movie at the last minute before the store closes in order to avoid a late fee as well.
Retrieves/rekindles: What does this technology bring to mind (or retrieve) from the past?
This technology brings to mind peoples need for entertainment. At first, it was stories by a campfire to teach the tribes history and rituals, and then we moved to entertainment by radio. Next, we were able to bring about television show (first black/white and then in color). Lastly, it brings to mind movies showing at local movie theaters.
Reverses: What might replace this technology in the future, or what might it cause to occur?
One thing that might replace this technology is if local theaters cease to exist and entirely new movies can be beamed directly into our living rooms. With the increasing speed of internet connections downloads are clearer and quicker than ever. In addition, with the use of portable projectors (like the ones in our classes) people have the ability to watch movies with their neighborhoods on the side of their houses. The only new thing would be instant access to movie premieres.
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