Defining Emerging Technology

1/24/2011

A week ago, I tweeted a couple of web pages I wanted to bookmark after researching the term “emerging technology.”  You see, last semester I participated in Dr. Grace Lin’s experiment of using Twitter as an educational/professional development tool and I got hooked.  Whenever I came across an interesting fact or an article, I shared by tweeting.  When I came across someone else’s interesting tweet, I followed up and learned new things.  I’m not finding much time to tweet nowadays (actually tweeting is no problem; keeping up with others’ tweets takes time, so I don’t even go there), but I recently used it as a bookmark. 

Now I can pull up those pages and talk about them.  Here is the definition of ET that I liked: “Emerging technology is defined as a media that is coming into view, coming into existence, or coming to commonality. It is an innovative technology that is reshaping the nature of education.” (http://schoolcomputing.wikia.com/wiki/Emerging_Technologies)  This page also lists the 6 major emerging technologies as: blogs, RSS, podcasts, wikis, handhelds, and robotics.  Appropriately, this information came from a wiki page edited by several people over a period of many years.  Go figure.  The last edit was in September of 2010 so the list may be slightly outdated.

The other page was about “10 Internet technologies that educators should be informed about” (http://www.emergingedtech.com/2009/04/10-internet-technologies-that-educators-should-be-informed-about/).  Again, the list is from 2009 so it’s even more slightly outdated, but nevertheless interesting.

I want to close with the thought that the emerging technology is “innovative and is reshaping the nature of education.”  I think it’s reshaping the way the next generation will learn, communicate, socialize, do business, run government, and everything else.  It’s already happening.

Jaycutting

1/20/2011

The second assignment for ETEC647 was to introduce a partner using any tool other than PowerPoint or Keynote.  (The first assignment was to start this blog to journal the Emerging Technologies we learn throughout the semester.)  Carl and I work for the same department at UH-Hilo, so we partnered up thinking that it would be easier to collaborate.  You know what?  We met briefly to discuss how we might do it, but most of our collaboration happened through emails and Dropbox.  Carl provided great photos and we’ve known each other for a while, so that made things easier.  But really, it would have been just as easy to work with anyone from another island or country given all the communication tools we have!  I love technology.  I love Dropbox.

I found another tool that I’ve come to love: Jaycut.  http://Jaycut.com.  Carl and I looked at Jaycut and OneTrueMedia.  We’d already tried Voicethread in ETEC442, and Prezi was cool but just another presentation tool.  Turns out, that OneTrueMedia only allows 30 seconds of free video.  Jaycut was perfect!  I have made a few simple videos with Windows MovieMaker and iMovie before, and Jaycut was very similar.  But it was oh-so-easy to publish! It also uploads directly to Youtube.  The only downside is that you have to have a very fast Internet connection since every edit and preview has to be synched with the Jaycut site.  It would be a great tool for high school or even junior high students to use to produce a video.  It’s a keeper.

BTW, here is the link to the video intro of Carl:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKD4XPqw5Vs

I just realized that I mistakenly thought it had to be under 4 minutes, instead of 3 minutes.  That’s what I get for not checking my notes.  Sorry it’s over 3 minutes.

A Blog Newbie

1/16/2011

My first blog ever.  For ETEC 647 class.  A new experience, a new skill to gain.  This could be worthwhile.  Finding time is probably the biggest challenge. 

I asked my 20-year-old daughter which blog site I should use, and she said “Tumblr” without any hesitation.  “That’s what all the cool kids use,” she added.  She’s been blogging on Blogspot (torigori.blogspot.com) and has no complaints, though.  So here’s my very first blog, finally catching up with the kids.

I just spent the whole Sunday afternoon moderating class discussions on Laulima Forum and in a Facebook Group.  Still learning, but getting the hang of it.  These things take so much time, though.  Isn’t technology supposed to save us time?  :)

UPDATE:  Moved over to Blogspot because I couldn't get Comments to work in Tumblr.  Tumblr was hip, alright, but not intuitive enough for me.