Module 1_Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

Module 1_Blog Post on Identifying an Emerged Technology

Hello Everyone,

Drs. Thornburg, Solloway, and Rogers defines emerging technology as a process that involves all stakeholders to look at how technologies could be potential used to increase work place productivity which would in turn yield greater student gains by impacting their everyday lives.

There are two definitions that I believe are most relevant in explaining how to facilitate the diffusion of an emerging technology in my workplace would have to be Thornburg’s definition and Roger’s defintion. I would choose Thornsburg’s definition as opposed to Solloway because emerging technology does not have a lot of production costs involved in the emergence of it in the educational field. Rogers’s definition involves stakeholders as the people moving the emerging technology into everyday practice. This is where both definitions work in conjunction to improve workplace procedures, practices, or policies. As educators we determine a need that requires further investigation to improve workplace productivity then we will champion its cause to bring this new strategy, procedure, or policy into fruition. An example of this emerging technology that I am referring is the influx of Web 2.0 Tools in the classroom. For my more specific example of Web 2.0 technology that has been emerging lately within my experience as a teacher and as an instructional specialist is Padlet. The website address is https://padlet.com/ Using Padlet, the students can write, read, listen, and speak which is very essential to the English language development of English Language learners.

My position on emerging technology influences how I share these technology integration strategies with my teachers at my schools greatly. Once I am aware of a need or curiosity I have tried to determine how I can best support my teachers to reach the ESL students that we serve. One of my Sheltered Instruction teachers asked me how they incorporate iPads in their classrooms without having to spend money for an app. I immediately thought of Padlet and its potential uses in the classroom are endless. Padlet has the ability for students to create online videos, write posts, submit attachments, and respond to classmate posts. I have conducted various professional development trainings at each of the seven schools that I oversee to ensure that Padlet is being added to the teacher’s instructional technology tool kit.

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014a). Elliot Soloway: Emerging vs. emerged technologies [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

  

Laureate Education (Producer). (2014k). David Thornburg: What is emerging technology? [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.) New York, NY: Free Press.

Thornburg, D. (2013b). Current trends in educational technology. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.

Thornburg, D. (2013e). When is a technology emergent? Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space Exploration.