Module 5 Responses

I commented on the following blogs:

 Sullus:

http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/08/educ-8848-2-emerging-and-future.html?showComment=1313678861339#c2748746838763005512

Maria:

http://msrodriguez-design.blogspot.com/2011/08/next-wave-of-technology.html?showComment=1313698526676#c3855907069606897025

Red Queens and Increasing Returns

When I decided to obtain the DVD, Minority Report, for my science fiction assignment in Module 4, I originally based my decision on the prospects of retrieving it from a digital server similar to Netflix or Blockbuster.com. I was familiar with Blockbuster.com as I was a customer for more than a year; however, before deciding on the reinstating my membership, I thought I would try Netflix. I even went as far as creating a free trial membership during the weeks of Module 3. I had never ordered a movie digitally from any site besides Direct TV Movie on Demand, but I thought this might be a great time to try.  Because my television was not easily accessible to viewing the movie in this manner, I had to resort to finding the DVD.

Redbox was my faculty of choice because, in all actuality, I ceased my membership with Blockbuster.com due to the convenience and price of Redbox. Redbox is a retail movie rental facility that uses kiosks to dispense movies for a nominal fee.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as I had anticipated because the movie I had chosen was only available in Blu-ray. I was very happy that my 19-year-old gamer was still home for summer break, and before heading to work gave me a quick tutorial on using his PSP to watch the movie.

I am inclined to believe that the current competition between DVDs and video-on-demand is an example of increasing returns as evident of the closures of so many DVD retailers.  Yes, the economy has had a hand in these closures, but the video-on-demand concept is a technology that has flooded the market place. If the concept related to kiosks in dispensing DVD was introduced earlier, it could have had the opportunity to be a Red Queen. In my opinion, the kiosks have kept DVD rentals in the market.

Relating to the four criteria of McLuhan’s tetrad, the video-on-demand has great potential in rendering DVD’s obsolete by rekindling more control of what is personally viewed on television screens.

~Wanda Ardoin-Bailey

Module 4 Blog Responses

I commented to the following blogs:

Dorothy Fernandes , http://studentofedtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/disrupted-by-my-second-life.html

and

Sullus, http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/07/disruptive-power-of-second-life-module.html?showComment=1312139861910#c7456280913592663510

~Wanda

Disruptive Technologies

As defined by Dr. Thornburg, a disruptive technology has the means of stopping an existing technology in its tracks because the disruptive technology offers more. I am not sure if I view Second Life as a disruptive technology per se.  If I were to agree that it is a disruptive technology then, I would have to say it has the potential of replacing any other form of Internet collaborative or social tool; nevertheless, it has the potential of replacing any application that allows users to communicate through the use of the web. As Rosedale (2008) reminds us, we are social creatures that enjoy working and socializing with others with similar interests and ideas. Second Life comes closer to fulfilling that need in a more in-depth level than any other application offered today. The natural need to create, organize, and exchange ideas is the basic part of social learning.

I am not sure how much time Second Life actually has. New companies are enhancing and capitalizing on the need for users to connect virtually and in real time. Other companies already in the field are beginning to heightened development in those areas that already encompass social networking and collaboration. Companies such as Google with Google+ are making connections easier and more efficient by adding circles, hangouts, sparks, and huddles.  That is the mere premise of a “wild card”, an unanticipated technology. While Google+ is in its trial phase, it sure has “wild card” potential.

So what are the benefits of Second Life? Because I have not entered Second Life, the benefits can only be seen through eyes of users and researchers. Mike Dee, a user commenting on Rosedale presentation, explains “..you have real discussions, and meet real people. It can be very intellectually stimulating. Walk into a cafe and sit down with someone from Denmark, Saudi Arabia, and Ireland.” In an educational stand point, Second Life could open the doors for intense simulations, dramatic role playing, and student-centered strategies engaging them in meaningful learning beyond the face-to-face teaching experience.

How has Second Life benefit your field of study?

Dee, M. (2010, May 6). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.

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

Rosedale, P. (2008). Philip Rosedale on Second Life [Video]. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html.

Thornburg, D. (n.d.) “Disruptive Technologies”

~Wanda Ardoin-Bailey

Module 3 Responses

Module 3 Responses

Module 3 Responses

I responded to Sullus at the following link:

http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/07/rhymes-of-history-technology-module-3.html

I responded to Dolly at the following link:

http://studentofedtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/speak-and-spell-rhymes-with.html?showComment=1310923798402#c2003121136576914227

Rhymes of History

Dr. Thornburg describes rhymes of history as a force that drives evolutions of technology by the impact of a technology of the past.  The first example I can think of is scrapbooking. Scrapbooking of the past did not fully interest me as a participant, but I loved viewing the books of my friends and family member.  I was typically impressed by their creativity and their passion as they continue enhancing their books using different visual arrangements of pictures, fonts, expressions, and memorable events.

I have seen scrapbooks evolve from my parent’s regular photo albums to completely inventive, creative scrapbooks to preprinted tools and now digital scrapbooks and social media. The concept of sharing pictures and milestones dates back to the 15^th century, and commonplace books were termed during the Renaissance period.  Slatten (2004) contends that Mark Twain was one of the biggest supporters of this pastime as evident of his patented series of scrapbooks in 1872.

The modern day scrapbooking can be found in digital websites such as www.webdocs.com as their claims include incorporating a variety of content and collaborative tools. Users’ scrapbooks can be viewed by the public or they may be private.  Other forms of scrapbooking per se are those created in social media such as MySpace and Facebook. Although, I have not had experience with the scrapbooking of the past, I am one of those users who have created multiple albums and recorded countless memorable events using social media tools. If you have also engaged in this form of expression, you too are a “scrapebooker”.

~Wanda Ardoin-Bailey

Module 2 Responses

Module 2 Responses

I responded to Sullus at the following link:

http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/06/emerging-technologies-tetrad-module-2.html?showComment=1309704386649#c7406315465803626921

I responded to Dolly at the following link:

http://studentofedtech.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post.html

Mobile Technologies

The smart phone is not a new technology, but the service to schools it can provide is new. My school does not have the appropriate funds to equip the school with up-to-date technology or software. The business and technology departments are still using the Microsoft 2000 operating system which, among other things, makes it difficult to take advantage of open source software. Also, equipment is failing at an alarming rate; services to these old computers are slow or nonexistent. Another major problem with the use of this form of technology is behavioral. The attitudes of district leaders are negative in regards to the use of the phones in the classroom. The reports of harassment, bullying, and privacy come in to play, and liability is a major concern; however, because I teach seniors, almost every student has access to a smart phone in the class room but school policy will not allow teachers to take advantage of these tools.

Using a smart phone in the school will allow students to work efficiently with others across the district, use software not available to them in the school, save money, and save time. As evident by the new report from National Association of Secondary School Principals, the tide may be changing. According to their recent report on using social and mobile technologies in school, they are supportive of this new form of connectivity in order to further support independent, critical thinkers. With guidelines in the form of responsible use policies and leader recommendation, these devices will help teachers and students move to a different level of understanding and knowledge.

We cannot deny that cellphones are more and more common place in our everyday lives, and to deny this trend in education is to pretend typewriters are used to teach keyboarding. Are cellphones acceptable in your school? Do you believe they can be used as an effective tool in our schools; why or why not?

National Association of Secondary School Principals (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nassp.org/Content.aspx?topic=Using_Mobile_and_Social_Technologies_in_Schools

IDEA Blog. (2011, May 13). Smartphones Widely Integrated into Our lives (graphs). Retrieved from  http://www.idea.org/blog/2011/05/13/smartphones-widely-integrated-into-our-lives-graphs/

~Wanda


COMMENT ON DOLLY'S BLOG
http://studentofedtech.blogspot.com/2011/06/14-months-and-emerged.html#comments


COMMENT ON SULLUS' BLOG
http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-trends.html#comments

Mobile Device Tetrad/ Blog 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gZTWJyuU0fNcgFuV88QR9fw7OYBeZ3K1Vlzd3KeONQs/edit?hl=en_US

Mobile Phones

Enhance:  It is hard to imagine our world without a cell phone in our pocket or purse, but at one time, we were all connected by some type of cord leading from our telephone to the wall of our home. By cutting this “umbilical” cord, we are able to go wireless for a variety of reasons, and by going wireless, we have also enhanced our lifestyle.

Obsolete:   Because of the mobile phones, pagers and CB radios became obsolete. The use of phones connected to homes in a traditional landline format is also becoming obsolete. The landline telephone has decreased considerably, and it is due to the increase use of mobile devices (McGlaun, 2008). Mobile devices continue to become easier, better, and offer services landlines could not match or even compete. One service that has increased the use of mobile devices is the access of the Internet. When users can access the internet and communicate with others on their mobiles, the landline telephone cannot keep up.

Retrieves/Rekindles: I remember my father and uncle using CB Radios in their rigs moving across country delivering petroleum. It was amazing to talk to someone we didn’t know and get information about the roadway or potentially hazardous conditions from people who cared simply because we shared the same profession. This type of relationship connection either on the road or in the basement of someone’s home was delivered through wireless devices.

Reverses:  Mobile phones have opened the door to more than communicating with others across the world. It has opened the door to multimedia messages including written and visual modes of communication. Through the use of smartphones videoconferencing has also been a possibility.  Downloaded applications have increased its importance in business and in the future will be a tool used for a complete list of business operations. As Internet commerce increase, mobile devices will also play a significant role in how people buy and sell merchandise.

S McGlaun. (2008, April 4). Cell Phone Usage Increases as Landline Usage Decreases. Retrieved from http://cellphones.about.com/b/2008/04/04/cell-phone-usage-increaes-as-landline-usage-decreases.htm.

Module 1 Comments

I responded to the following blogs:

Dorothy Fernandes

http://studentofedtech.blogspot.com/

Sullus Teague

My blog URL: http://sullus-teague.blogspot.com/