I, luckily, did not have a heart attack, though this one is about 1/8th the quality of the first one. But on the bright side, that’s also 1/8th of the quantity so it’s less for you guys to read :-D! If you want more information, the article is 34 pages long and says a whole lot more than I do.
Hope you all had nice breaks,
Nandi
The Horizon Report: 2009 K-12 Edition
Summary
The Horizon Report summarizes six emerging technologies that are potentially useful in the K-12 classroom.
The technologies are chosen from hundreds of potential technologies that have been written about as being upcoming technologies in the field of education. The researchers first read many articles and other research about each of the technologies being considered.
The emerging technologies are organized into three adoption horizons that predict when these technologies will be adopted into mainstream education.
One Year or Less
Collaborative Environments
Collaborative Environments are virtual workplaces that students and teacher can use to communicate. They range from relatively simple online tools like wikis and Google Docs to complex three dimensional virtual worlds and multiplayer gaming environments.
The value given to collaboration is increasing around the world as people are expected to collaborate across an increasing number of geographic and cultural boundaries. These online tools help support this societal trend.
An example of collaborative environments that pertains to elementary education can be found at:
http://mscofino.edublogs.org/projects
In this example, students from kindergarten to fifth grade collaborate with peers from around the world using technologies such as social networking tools, blogs and wikis.
Further examples can be found on pages 11 and 12 of the text.
Online Communication Tools
Online communication tools are exactly what they say, software or websites to communicate using the internet. Included are instant messengers (AIM), video conferencing (Skype), and micro-blogging (Edmodo or Twitter) technologies. Online communication tools put students in contact with distant family members, experts and peers. This is useful because students need social interaction and meetings with experts in the fields. This is not always possible since field trips are expensive and take a lot of time. These communication tools are usually very cheap or free and can be used from anywhere in the world at any time of the day.
An example that can be used in an upper elementary setting is Zoey’s Room. This is an online community for middle school aged girls that deals with science, mathematics, and technology.
More examples can be found on page 15 of the text.
Two to Three Years
Mobiles
Features of modern cell phones such as GPS, third party applications, and web browsing capabilities make them ideal for use in the classroom.
While many school systems ban personal cellular devices, some are learning that they can be useful, with some school systems opting for small devises like iPhones rather than personal computers for student web browsing.
An example of an activity for the elementary classroom can be found in the form of the iPod Touch Application, Kids’ Fraction Fun. This application helps students practice the skills they are learning in class.
Examples of how to further incorporate mobile phones into the classroom can be found on page 18.
Cloud Computing
The cloud refers to computing resources resulting from large “data farms,” which are data centers that host thousands of servers. Many large scale websites like Google and Amazon use the cloud to host a large amount of information that can be found relatively quickly. This requires multiple computers for data storage. This storage is usually very cheap, making the tools that rely on the cloud often very cheap or free. A downside to this is that data storage is in the hands of outside providers rather than on your own computer. So, if the providers of Facebook decided to no longer provide storage, all your data would be lost.
A website that could prove useful for elementary teachers is CloudTrip: Education. This is a directory of cloud based applications. Teachers can download cloud based applications that deal with digital storytelling, student portfolios, and many other aspects of education.
More examples of how to use cloud computing are shown on page 21.
Four to Five Years
Smart Objects
A smart object is any physical object that includes an identifier that can track information about the object. Any item can be made into a smart object by attaching radio-frequency identification tags. More complex smart objects contain computers and have the ability to sense position, light, heat, color, and proximity to other smart objects among many other capabilities. These are very relevant to teaching because any object can become a source for learning. The technology to create a smart object out of anything is not yet readily available in the mainstream for teachers.
The LeapFrog Tag “pen” (I think we talked about this in reading) is an example of a smart object tool that is useful in a primary setting. With this pen, the student can interact with special books to listen to the story, play games, and learn about the pictures.
Further examples can be found on pages 24 and 25 of the text.
The Personal Web
The personal web refers to a collection of tools, widgets, and services that handle developing and organizing online content. These tools try to take the large amount of information on the web and tailor it to an individual’s personal needs.
Many web browsers use this on a small scale by providing personalized start up pages and the technology is readily available. Policy designed to protect students from encountering harmful material on the internet helps to hinder these technologies by limiting access to valuable educational content.
The personal web can be used in an upper elementary classroom by using a custom social networking application like Elgg with which teachers can create a class-wide student network for research links, discussion, media files, and other information.
Further examples can be seen on pages 28 and 29.
Discussion
Are there any other technologies that you think would be useful in the elementary classroom?
OH CRAP... I JUST TYPED FOR 2 HOURS AND I DON'T KNOW where it went.
ReplyDeleteI am seriously about to have a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great overview, Nandi. You brought up some interesting questions.
ReplyDeleteI anticipate that I will use the online communication and collaborative environment tools in my own classroom one day. I think these tools are relatively easy to use and would provide a learning experience otherwise unavailable to my students.
With some of the other technologies discussed, my fear is that they would be too distracting and that the costs (classroom management, time consuming, etc) would outweigh the benefits (fun and engaging). For example, the mobile phone idea seems a bit far-fetched. I understand that having individual, hand-held devices for students to access the internet may seem like an upgrade from classroom laptops (which are bulkier, have a shorter battery life, and are prone to freezing up), however I forsee many significant problems arising. Within the primary grades, mobile devices would not be appropriate because the students lack the motor skills needed to navigate them smoothly and accurately. In the intermediate grades, I would be more concerned with monitoring the students' use of the phone. Because of the size of the phone, I think it would be more difficult to assess whether everyone is on the same page (literally and figuratively!).
This is simply one scenario and for the sake of time, I won't state my opinion on each of the 6 technologies. My point is simply this (and it is one we return to frequently in this class): the technologies we choose to incorporate into our daily curriculum should not create undue stress in our already busy lives as teachers. At the same time, they are not meant to alleviate us from our duties (sometimes, it seems, the technologies themselves take on a role of "babysitter" in many classrooms). Ideally, our use of technology should complement our teaching style, never overpowering or taking its place.
Thanks Nandi! I especially like how you provided us with links to explore these technologies. I think the "online community" you gave us a link to visit was really cool. I love how kids from around the world have opportunities to share their learning with others and think this is a great idea. I hope to give my students similar opportunities when I become a teacher. I think video conferencing sites are useful for reasons along the same lines. I am not exactly sure about what grade I hope to teach/what grade I'll end up teaching, but I think these tools are applicable to students of all ages.
ReplyDeleteI think the technologies the Horizon Report focused on are all really cool. If used appropriately, I can see a lot of ways they can benefit student learning. However, a major drawback is how likely we are to encounter many of these technologies when we're teaching. For example, I am skeptical about seeing kids using personal iTouches to practice fraction knowledge. However, I think it is always important to be aware of the technologies kids may be using outside of school and find ways to make learning relevant to them and what they're interested in. We hear over and over how teachers need to be creative with available resources!
Nandi, Jennifer, and Megan all brought up the same point I was think: as useful as phones may become to use, they could very easily become more of a distraction than a benefit. Online communication tools and smart objects could provide similar benefits in my opinion and would be much easier to implement in an elementary classroom. Overall I did like all the tools, and like the rest of you, I could see using them in a classroom very easy. Technology has become such a big part of this world that to try to avoid using them would put you and the students at a disadvantage. And there really are so many creative ways to implement all of them, which in my opinion is one of the most important things about using technology in a classroom.
ReplyDeleteNandi,
ReplyDeleteFirst, I would like to say that your summary was fabulous and very informative. Similar to Jennifer's point-of-view, I loved the "online community" you created for us. As teachers, we have so many resources available, but it is important to find websites that are relevant to our teaching.
I am a huge fan of collaborative environments, especially in an educational setting. They have proven themselves successful in the work place, so why not use them in our classrooms. Multiple people are able to work at once, while sharing ideas and suggestions pertinent to the topic at hand. Furthermore, we have found that Blogs and Wikis promote teamwork and relationship building. We can teach our children the importance of citizenship, cooperation, and valuing each another's opinion at an early age. These virtual workplaces will undoubtedly foster stronger relationships between the student and teacher as well. Collaborative environments will encourage teachers to provide feedback to their students in a timely manner as well as increase communication on a more consistent basis.
Contrariwise, I agree with my peers on the drawbacks of mobiles used in schools. Mobiles, while portable and easily accessible in some schools, would inevitably become a distraction in the classroom. Wouldn't low SES students be at a strict disadvantage to those who live in a more affluent school district? I believe there are many other options to consider.
Of course, there are technological barriers no matter where you teach or go to school. Certain schools do not own laptops or any technology equipment. Occassionally, you will find a school with very little or no Internet access. Due to budgetary issues and shortfalls, I know I have not experienced technology in the classroom like some of my peers.
This article provided introduced the reader to a lot of unfamiliar online tools to be implemented in classrooms in the coming years. Thank you, Nandi, for those embedded links. Your summary provided a succinct overview of the information presented.
ReplyDeleteWith that, I think that Collaborative Environments will continue be a powerful tool in linking students across the globe, as well with their teachers. I think class wikis and tools such as SWIFT will become more prevalent and increase communication among students, teachers and parents in the coming years (or in the next year ☺). Similarly (although considered an ‘online communication tool’), The YackPack platform also seems like an efficient means to accomplish this end. I also like the idea of Zoey’s Room, as Nandi mentioned. Certainly, this tool reaches out to a unique and important population. There is a lot to said for online communication empowering the student to learn when he or she is most curious about something. Collaborative environments certainly help facilitate this.
Concurrent with how my fellow bloggers feel about mobile devices, I think elementary school students have a long way to go before mobile devices are fully embraced. This article presents some great to tools for kids’ study support, especially with respect to the Touch. However, I think there will have to be a significant cultural shift before we equip small kids with these devices in a large scale way. I also think that since these tools are largely used for social interaction, the teacher would be competing for attention if implemented in the classroom.
Despite these current challenges, as well as those of access mentioned by my fellow bloggers, I think these tools will occupy a large presence in our careers—probably sooner than later.