Module 2: EDUC 7108 2 – Emerging and Future Technologies
Emerging Technology Tetrads
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| Kindle Fire Tablet |
Reading Technology K-12
Reading Technology for K-12 is currently a requirement for learning that embodies the Core
Curriculum Standards. The learning modality for minimizing the performance gap
is classified as a shift in the curriculum. This is “shift 1” and “shift 2.”
The shifts are associated with level K-5 and level 6-12 respectively. Reading
will be the learning processes that will be applied for making the difference
in learning across the curriculum. Reading
is a national learning challenge. The question
is how this can be accomplished? Several schools have been technology proactive
in enhancing learning with programs that helps student to develop reading
skills. Reading can help to close the performance gap. One stipulation will be for students to do 50
% reading in their subject areas. The challenge requires training of
instructors to develop lesson units or plans that integrate extensive reading
in class. This will be a challenge for teachers in engaging, motivating and
accomplishing the learning objectives of each lesson. Recently I participated
in Core Curriculum Standard training. The workshop was for introducing teachers
to a “GRASP” model lesson plan. This acronym stands for Goal for lesson, Role
of students, Activities in the lesson, Standard and Performance. It never
ceases to amaze me how student’s education is wrapped in “catch phrases or
words.” There was no mention for the main curriculum driver “technology.” Some
schools are providing the necessary technology for encouraging required
reading. Engstrom (2004) elicits “For the past few years technology educators
across the United States and in many other countries have heard the call to
design curriculum that will promote technological literacy for all children.”
McLuhan (1988) and (1998) respectively in Wikipedia (2012) forecast
objective measures by which “media’ should be assessed for its introduction in
a social system, and its relationship to survival, growth, and consequently wither
and die or transforms. The reading technology will undergo these stages as it
is introduced for closing the K-12 performance gap. One technology that I have
identified for the reading program is both a tangible hardware and apps. Some
fundamental criteria that I used were: (a) portability (b) small
(c) carries mobile technology-3G/4G and so forth (d) enhance reading
(e) attractive for student (f) cost of consideration (g) current (h) enables
collaborative interaction and social networking (i) can transfer its apps (software
upload) to other hardware. One Technology that matches suitability is the Amazon
Kindle Fire Tablet. This technology carries a full color 7" multi-touch display
inclusive of Wi-Fi and mobile technology. The RAM capacity for the latest brand
is 8 GB. Many students in my community are feeling ecstatic about this technology.
Details of the Kindle Fire Tablet are available on eBay (2012) where it can
also be purchased. Some specs include USB connection, 8 hour battery life, dual
core processor, touch screen of quality 1024 x 600 pixels and the ability to
link with the World Wide Web and over one million books to read. This is
inclusive of newspaper, Times Magazines and Journals.
McLuhan espouses that
Tetrads exhibits in chain formation or can be in cluster as reversal or
retrieval takes place. It is interesting to note that the Tetrad phases of
Enhance, Obsolete, Retrieve and Reverse all happens simultaneously for Media
identity and initiation. The technologies that the Kindle Fire Tablet replaces
were singular in their designs. These include (a) the radio that was present
during World War II used for ideology and information (b) the Technicolor three
strip camera of the 1950s (c) the television since the 1960s (d) the portable
hand-held television set since the 1970s (e) the laptops of the 1990s (f) the mobile
communication and media devices such as cellphones, digital camera,
smartphones, iPods and so on for the early 21st century.
McLuhan’s 4 Laws of Media (2006)
(1) What does
the Media Enhance?
(2) What does
the Medium make Obsolete?
(3) What does
the Medium retrieve that had been obsolesced earlier? &
(4) What does
the Medium flip (Reverse) into when pushed to extremes?
The table below seeks to answer the above referencing for
the amazon Kindle Fire Tablet Tetrad
ENHANCE:
*The ability for K-12 student
to be connected in reading both inside and outside the classroom.
*Partially fulfill the 50% reading required for Core Curriculum State
Standards for subjects
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OBSOLETE:
*The need for students to physically visit library for accessing
relevant reading materials
*Relieve the dependency for teacher-lead in determining and accessing
reading materials
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RETRIEVE:
*Reading fiction and non -fiction stories & epic tales
*Relevant and needed subject information & content
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Reverse:
* Latest Nexus 7 to be released on the market in a few days.
*Apps transferable to other personal Technology
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| Nexus 7 to be released 07/04/2012 |
The critical mass of the Nexus 7 seems to be “piggy backing”
on the Kindle Fire Tablet. According to Sullivan (2012) “The Nexus 7 has some
fairly expensive-looking technology inside it--a high-definition display,
multicore processors, and more.” A proposed Tetrad for the Nexus 7 to be released
Wednesday (07/04/2012) is as follows.
Nexus 7 Tetrad
ENHANCE: Advance Mobile technology and lighter weight (mere 2 ounces)
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OBSOLETE: Kindle Fire Tablet (in future)
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RETRIEVE: Android Operating System
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REVERSE: Probability for multiple apps. (unknown)
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References:
Thornburg, D. D. (2008b). Emerging technologies and
McLuhan's Laws of Media. Lake Barrington, IL: Thornburg Center for Space
Exploration. Retrieved from: https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201270_01/PH_EDUC/NCATE_EDUC_8848_EDUC_7108/Module%202/Resources/Resources/embedded/emerging_technologies_and_mcluhan%27s_laws_of_media.pdf
Engstrom, E. D. (2004). Assessing for Technological
Literacy. Retrieved from: http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst?docId=5008214953:
Kindle Fire Tablet.(2012). eBay. Retrieved from: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-AMAZON-KINDLE-FIRE-MULTI-TOUCH-IPS-7-ANDROID-APPS-COLOR-TABLET-/320798229765?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BUA%252BP%252BFICS%252BUFI%252BIIUM%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D120823736137%26ps%3D54
Dilworth, J (2006). McLuhan’s 4 Law of Media. Retrieved
from: http://www.johndilworth.com/20-marshall-mcluhan-four-laws-of-media
Cecil,
ReplyDeleteI understand your points and frustration in technology not being considered a requirement, yet they still want teachers to use it. I believe this is part of the reason why so many teachers get by without using technology in their classrooms on a daily basis. Our school district focused on the GRASP idea this year in designing lessons and units, and our CLASS Keys evaluation system has the expectation of implementing technology into instruction and for student independent learning.
I like the criteria that you identified in using to evaluate reading technology. The Kindle Fire is a great tool to integrate interactive reading applications to increase student reading and literacy skills. I had not yet heard of the Nexus 7, but I am interested to watch how it is emerged into society and if it will have as much of an impact on motivating reading as the Kindle Fire does. Do you believe that there will eventually be such a tablet that will be specifically designed for classroom use, with preloaded, age-appropriate applications? Thanks for sharing your knowledge of the new tool!
Hi Cecil,
ReplyDeleteYou have done a fabulous job, I enjoyed reading your post. You have incorporated reading standards in you blog post which is incredible.
It was a good idea to have one topic for all the members of a learning community and I see the diversity in opinion and insight. I see two thing common in the tetrads of all the group members which are:
1. “Retrieval of story telling”.
2. Obsolescence of library visits or traditional reading.
You have chosen Kindle Fire as your reading technology which will be replaced by Nexus 7. Aren’t iPad, Kindle Fire and Nexus 7 similar in their functions? Can you please compare them if possible? All these technologies are more than just reading assistance.
Cecil,
ReplyDeleteWith the current core curriculum standards, schools are implementing reading programs through technology. My school does not have iPads or Kindles for the students. We do have Star Fall, Education City, Success Maker, and Study Island. We also have Tumble Books, and Book flix. Sometimes I connect my laptop to the USB cord on the projector screen and allow the reading application read books to the students. This is nice to do for nonfiction books because certain words are highlighted and when I click on them, they will give the definition. I like the “GRASP” system. We do not call it that at our school, but we reinforce the same concepts.
I enjoyed reading you Blog. You did a thorough job explaining the applications that are on the different tablets. The Kindle Fire is an excellent tool with wonderful apps to help students with vocabulary and comprehension. It is excellent that schools provide tablets to aid in the reading program of students. There are so many schools, including mine, that do not have them. We have to rely on the aborve mentioned reading applications that are on are desktop computers. Great post!
Tracy