MODULE 4 – SECOND LIFE

According to Thornburg (2009), Disruptive technology is a new technology with the same functionality as the existing technology but it functions more efficiently and then obsoletes that technology. Second Life is a disruptive technology because we are living in a networked world and this technology allows people to "make-believe" connect even though they are far apart. Young people love it so, according to an article in University World News, many of the universities and colleges are purchasing SL properties and hiring programmers to establish presences on Second Life to attract these young people. According to Nuthall (2008), there is quite a bit of money to be made in Second Life. In fact, "Last year alone, the GDP of the Second Life world was upwards of US$65 million." No one wants to be left out in the cold when money is involved, so business and universities want to get in on this market. Second Life is about replacing the physical teaching setting with a virtual world.

Thornburg (2009) explained disruptive technologies as completely new tools that change how things are done, and are not gradual extensions of older technologies. I work in K-12 education and have been to a few workshops on a Second Life Package that our district was hoping to adopt and use. It was very expensive, and extremely time-consuming up front, however when we did develop a science lesson, the students and teachers loved it and were completely motivated to engage in the learning. Second Life can be expensive and with all of the Web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies comes OpenSim, which stands for OpenSimulator and is free to most users. This technology is not only engaging and motivating, but it provides a platform for students to develop their technological, cognitive, linguistic, artistic, and social skills.

References

Korolov, M. (2012, April 16). Hypergrid Business:Georgia School Grid to Triple Land Area. Cumming, GA, USA. Retrieved from Geo.

Nuthall, K. (2008, January 20). A Disruptive Technology Arrives. University World News .

Thornburg, D. (2009). Disruptive Technologies. DVD . Laureate Education, Inc.

 

 

 

 

Module 3 - Rhymes of History

 Dr. Thornburg (2008) described a rhyme in history as an affect or effort of a new development that rekindles something from the past.  One technology that represents a rhyme of history is the smartphone camera or digital camera.  These new cameras rekindle the  old Polaroid instant cameras that gave us an instant photo with no wait for processing. Below are three sites that address this rhyme of history.  I will be revealing my age if I claim to have used one and been very impressed with it when I was a teenager.  I used it for several school projects. 

 http://encyclopedia.jrank.org/articles/pages/1020/Photography-and-Society-in-the-20th-Century.html

 http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnkotter/2012/05/02/barriers-to-change-the-real-reason-behind-the-kodak-downfall/

 http://qz.com/35783/lessons-for-apple-instagram-and-others-from-polaroids-past-and-present/

References
 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Evolutionary technologies, featuring Dr. David Thornburg.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). Six forces that drive emerging technology, featuring Dr. David Thornburg.

Link to Kevin Kelly's speech
http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html