Module 2 - Cell Phone Impact on Society Using Web 2.0 Technology

Cell phone technology was introduced to society by the Motorola Company in 1983. The company released the first generation analog phone technology which would be later replaced by a much more reliable digital technology. Car phones and full size bag phones were the first and only options for communicating outside of a land line. Over the course of the next 20+ years, cell phone technology would transform itself with the growing demand of society and the advancements of technology.

Since the introduction of the first Web browser, the Internet has been considered an interactive communications tool, but we’re just beginning to unlock the Web's ability to help us interact (Schipul, 2006). The exponential growth and advancement in technology has accelerated society’s methods of communication. We have moved from an age of communicating via home or pay phones, digital pagers, cell phones, now SPT (Smart Phone Technology), respectively. SPT provides an accelerated channel of communication through various social networking technologies by way of sending text, email, and blog messages from a single cell phone.

SPT also allows users to download other social networking applications such as IM and Facebook to keep a consistent line of communication open between family and friends. So what does the future hold for smart phone technology? Taking technology to the next level, cell phone makers are introducing 3-D technology to smart phones. For the gadget junkies watching movies or streaming video on a smart phone in 3-D could be considered the next best thing since sliced bread. For those who still operate flip phones with limited capabilities, playing in this new age of technological innovation will be virtually impossible. The exponential growth and advancement in technology has accelerated society’s methods of communication; therefore Smart Phone Technologies becoming emerged.


Reference:
Schipul, E. (2006). The Web's next generation: Web 2.0. Public Relations Tactics, 13(3), 23. Retrieved from SocINDEX with Full Text database.

Module 1 Identify an Emerged Technology

Social networking technology is a growing phenomenon in society. Practically every human being has a cell phone, computer or laptop at his or her disposal. The use of email is sharing the same space of letter writing. The trends of blogging, texting, and using Face Book are taking over the way we communicate via cyber space. Over the past 10 years, the educational system has advanced in its efforts to communicate to parents concerning their children’s progress in school, or sending out general communication about school events via email.

Email is becoming a dinosaur of communication and texting, while blogging and Face Book are the wave of the future. The National School Boards Association (NSBA, 2007) conducted a survey of students, parents, and administrators to determine the purpose of using SNSs; therefore the researchers found that close to 60% of students who utilized SNSs did so to talk about education-related topics (e.g., college, news, jobs, politics) and 50% of students used SNSs to discuss school work they were assigned in the classroom (As cited in Morgan, 2010).

So how do we link these social networking sites to education? How do we address parents and teacher concerns about privacy and possible abuse of the sites as it relates to the content that is placed on a user’s profile? With the assistance from the education system, creators of the most popular social networking sites could develop ESN (Educational Social Networking). The idea behind ESN would be to create a secured education channel to the sites. Built in active monitoring tools for content and create new creative education logos distinguishing social based from education based. Roach (2006), conducted a study which engaged social networking technologies in education, and found that over half of the students respondents would “read a blog authorized by a faculty member” that pertained to course information and school activities.

If embraced by the education system, social networking sites could be utilized to conduct group/class discussions and posting weekly assignments on Blog sites. High school students who are looking to take professional development courses to prepare them for life after graduation could utilize Linked In for professional networking. Student collaboration could be done through Facebook and with the concept of ESN; this goal could be accomplished in a closely monitored virtual classroom environment. The best thing about the concept, it would come at no additional cost to the education system!

References:


Morgan, J. (2010). Social Networking Web Sites Teaching Appropriate Social Competence to
Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders. Intervention in School and Clinic,
(45), 147 - 157.

Roach, R (2006). Prospective college students receptive to electronic social networking
recruitment methods, survey finds. Diverse Issues in Higher Education online

Module 6 Postings - Reducing Cost While Introducing Globalization of Learning in the Educational System

I responded to the following:

LaTonya Simmons

Kat Crawford

William Goldstein

Amy Cantymagli

Richard W

Reducing Cost While Introducing Globalization of Learning in the Educational System

Module 5 Postings - Moving Toward Dynamic Technologies

I responded to the following:

Lynne Butziewicz
Waldentechnology.blogspot.com

Richard
Principalsofdistanceeducationwaldenu.blogspot.com

Acoley
Acoley.blogspot.com

Module 5 Moving Toward Dynamic Technologies

ConceptMapSimmonsA1

Module 4 Postings - Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tools

This week I posted to the following:

Richard
Proncipalsofdistanceeducationwalden.blogspot.com

Amy
Acantymagli.blogspot.com

Engaging Learners with New Strategies and Tools

Accelerated methods of learning could be considered the preferred method of learning among working adults. Society is always looking to obtaining the best results in a little amount of time. Higher Educational programs have incorporated accelerated instructional methodologies in various fields of studies to provide the opportunity for students to earn a degree in half the time it would take in traditional programs. Recent Internet developments such as social software and novel tools supporting new ways of communicating and networking, which may be summarized under the headings social web or Web 2.0, present new possibilities as well as challenges (Paus-Hasebrink et al, 2010). As the educational system continues to explore ways to increase and accelerate learning; incorporating social networking or Web 2.0 technologies in education could be the next advancement in education. Roach (2006), conducted a study which engaged social networking technologies in education, and found that over half of the students respondents would “read a blog authorized by a faculty member” that pertained to course information and school activities. Looking at the preferred method of learning and communicating, brings about the notion of exploring social networking technologies in the educational setting as it relates to accelerated instructional methods and feedback to students.

References

Paus-Hasebrink, I., Wijnen, C., & Jadin, T. (2010). Opportunities of Web 2.0: Potentials of learning. International Journal of Media & Cultural Politics, 6(1), 45-62.doi:10.1386/macp.6.1.45/1.

Roach, R (2006). Prospective college students receptive to electronic social networking recruitment methods, survey finds. Diverse Issues in Higher Education online December 2006 edition


Web 2

Module 3 Postings - Assessing Collaborative Efforts

I posted to the following:

Cwallo.blogspot.com
Latonyasimmons.blogspot.com

Assessing Collaborative Efforts

The assessment of participation in a collaborative learning community is best performed by having students self evaluate their work. Siemens (2010) discuss the model of offloading the assessment into a peer environment. When students are forced to take complete ownership, they are more apt to see the value in self assessment evaluation than that of an instructor. For example, in a business education course, students are required, at semester to create portfolios or assignments created throughout the semester (or quarter); among these assignments is a self evaluation. Throughout the course students receive feedback on the quality of their work. The standards set for this feedback was created by the class, therefore placing ownership once again on the students. Bringing students into this process helps lessons confusion of what is expected of them. In addition to a portfolio assessment, a structured model, summary/response/assessment model, forces students to evaluate themselves in detailed format. 1.) summary of material covered in class, 2.) personal response, (what was helpful, what was challenging, 3.) self assessment of how students felt about working in a collaborative setting.

It's best to assess where the student is currently at and work from there (KWL) and guide instruction around this method. But if a student does not want to network or collaborate in a learning community for an online course, other members of the learning community should not try to force the student but notify the instructor of the lack of participation of the member, or simply give that individual a few assigned tasks that way the instructor will see the lack of participation through the log files and lack of discussion or assignment post.

In an online setting the instructor should serve as a facilitator to merely guide students through the learning process. The instructor should incorporate various methods throughout a course such as: small focus groups or individual email discussions assessing the student’s performance throughout the course.

Overall, I think teachers can learn a great deal by using self assessment models with students. It gives you an opportunity to see inside their thinking and learn what they gained from the learning process. After all, learning is what matters most, and the best way to evaluate learning is by actually gaining the knowledge of comprehension of coursework from the students.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Distance Education:
Assessment of Collaborative featuring Dr. George Siemens [DVD]. United States: Walden University.

Module 3 Postings - Storyboard

I posted to the following:

Cwallo.blogspot.com
Latonyasimmons.blogspot.com

Video Storyboard (Reducing Cost in Education by Going Global)

Video Storyboard

Module 2 Postings

I posted to the following:

acoley.blogspot.com

principlesofdistanceeducationwalden.blogspot.com

Elements of Distance Education Diffusion

Online communication is a growing phenomenon in society. Practically every human being has a cell phone, computer or laptop at his or her disposal. The use of email is sharing the same space of letter writing. Cell phones are not becoming popular, not for the accessibility to actually talk to someone through voice communication, but because of their social networking features. The trend of blogging, texting, and using Face Book are taking over the way we communicate via cyber space. Over the past 10 years, traditional educational systems has advanced in its efforts to communicate student's progress or general communication about school events via email. As stated before email is becoming a dinosaur of communication, while testing, bloging and Face Book are the waves of the future. Roach (2006), conducted a study which engaged social networking technologies in education, and found that over half of the students respondents would "read a blog authorized by a faculty member" that pertained to course information and school activities. Therefore, it is time for the education system as a whole to embrace online communication as it relates to distance education programs.

Because of the increase of online communication in society, we are seeing a growing acceptance in distance education programs (Siemens, 2010). The introduction of Web 2.0 technologies has helped society overcome its fear of technology. Lots of companies are jumping on the communication bandwagon by offering applications to access their sites via SMT (Smart Phone Technologies). Because I have an I-Phone, I live by the phrase "there's an app for that". I can check to see how much money I have in the bank, find out the nearest restaurant wherever I am at, email the location to my friends, and GPS the directions so I will not get lost. Now that's all access communication at your fingertips!! But it does not stop there. Walden University has joined the world of SMT applications. Distance education at your fingertips. Because of the advances in technology, I can now access my classes via my I-Phone. Now that is taking education to the next level.

Overall, the education system need to pay close attention at how society is evolving in the world of online communication and continue to incorporate these technological advances in the way we deliver instructions to students.

References:
Siemens, G. (2010). The futuer of distance education. (internet Video Presentation). Laureate Education, Inc.

Roach, R (2006). Prospective college students receptive to electronic social networking recruitment methods, survey finds. Diverse Issue's in Higher Education online December 2006 edition

The Next Generation of Distance Education

One key concept that I would like to point out as it relates to the next generation of distance education is how this type of education process has been around for years, but with the introduction of the internet there has been an increase interest in the idea of distance education. And through that interest has spawned a greater interest in advancing these types of programs not only in a college setting, but possibly in the K-12 environment as well. As my research interest looks to explore ways to incorporate social networking technologies in the classroom in the K-12 environment, I am a strong supporter in the push to move distance learning/education to the next level

Elements of Diffusion

There is nothing more difficult to plan, more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to manage than creation of a new order of things... Whenever his enemies have the ability to attack the innovator, they do so with the passion of partisans, while the others defend him sluggishly, so that the innovator and his party alike are vulnerable.

Niccolo Machiavelli