Module 5: Responses

I have responded to the following blog posting:

Cathy Marziali

http://cathymarzialiedtech.blogspot.com/2011/08/module-5-red-queens-and-increasing.html?showComment=1313382054149#c6342680397691650898


Lewis Chappelear

http://lchappelear.blogspot.com/2011/08/red-queens-and-increasing-returns.html?showComment=1313382818786#c2643109086738276635

Module 5: Red Queens

As a Netflix subscriber, I have always enjoyed the availability of DVDs both instantly and through mail order. It became disconcerting when the movie I desired to see,“ Paycheck” could not be found in the “Watch Instantly” cue. I was not a happy camper. I decided to try new Video-on-Demand Service offered through Walmart. The services uses VUDU, allowing one to only pay for the movies that are watched, streamed instantly through any venue: game consoles, computer/laptops, Blue Ray, or Ipod.

Does video-on-demand present serious competition to Netflix, BlockBuster, or Redbox? With increasing demands for movies, as well as consumer conscious spending due to the uncertain economic conditions, and the dramatic rises in ownership of technological devices, I will venture to premise the Video- On-Demand may indeed be the Red Queen within this market. This Red Queen has gained steamed in light of the recent study stating the decline of cable users in recent months. The higher costs of cable subscriptions may hold at least a portion of the blame for this decline in subscriptions as consumers find more inexpensive ways to satisfy their need to viewing.

Netflix with its increase in prices, and the splitting of its On Demand Service from the DVD services have come under attack in recent weeks. Most of us Netflix customers are not happy with the increasing costs associated with this service. In addition, we must wait for approximately 28 days from the time the movie is released to the public before Netflix customers have the opportunity to use the service for requests.

Within McLuhan’s Tetrad where would I place DVD and Video-On-Demand ? Such a thought provoking question. I believe I would place these items within the Tetrad as follows:
DVD and Video-On-Demand
Enhances: On Demand video viewing within the comfortable settings: home, office, etc.
Obsoletes: Need to be in stationary location, with one stationary device
Reverses: Rekindles home movie video viewing
Retrieves: services available at one’s fingertips on any technological device: game console, TV, smartphones, music devices with video services (Ipod)



References

Big Cable is Bleeding: 500K+Subscribers Lost in 3rd Quarter: http://gigaom.com/video/big-cable-is-bleeding-500k-subscribers-lost-last-quarter/

Challenge to Netflix: Walmart is Now Streaming Vudu Video on Demand: http://seekingalpha.com/article/281857-challenge-to-netflix-walmart-is-now-streaming-vudu-video-on-demand

Module 4 Blog Responses

I have responded to the following Blogposts:

Cathy Marziali




Lewis Chappelear

Disruptive Nature of Second Life: Education Style

As we begin to examine closely the properties of why particular technologies are considered “disruptive”, I found myself not quite understanding the rationale of why Second Life was placed into this particular category. In my mind’s eye; the progression of virtual worlds within the realm of technology for social interaction is one of a natural evolution of events.
The Internet has opened multiple opportunities for social interaction: The AOL, Yahoo, and Windows Live Messenger Services provided real-time social interactions with individual or groups; venues that were instituted before the Pre- Second Life era. We herald this advent of technology as one that affords us the ability to communicate with our global neighbors; opening avenues of information that were not possible decades earlier. The Internet has become our best resource for collaboration and cooperation amongst ourselves: for the sharing of information, insights, and understandings with ourselves, our communities, and our world. Why wouldn’t an individual devise a program with a way for others to socially interact within a centralized location via virtual worlds?

Phillip Rosedale, the creator of Second Life, in his discourse began to open my understanding. His premise is that individuals desire the ability to organize and experience information that is being received: virtual worlds provide that avenue. His second premise is the experience of this creation and interaction with information is “implicitly and inherently social”. (Rosedale, 2008) Fascinating! What is more fascinating is that this premise has its roots in Dewey’s Theory of Experience. The idea that learning activities should be designed in such a way the student interacts with the information, experiences the information, thereby constructing their own knowledge is constructivist approach at its best. Knowledge generation begins with knowledge creation. Learning is a social event. Second Life provides this freedom to create.

As I began to make these connections, I found myself understanding how Second Life, within the realm of K-12 education, would definitely be considered as “disruptive technology”. Second Life revolutionizes the way the student interacts with the information given. This concept is not well understood among those who would drive educational policy. Students must actively experience information and construct their own tree of knowledge in order for knowledge retention to occur. Learning outcomes increase when students are active participants in their own learning. Passive learning: no such animal.

The teacher would abandon the role of “know it all” to the role of facilitator: a co-creator of the knowledge experience. It takes a certain amount of guts to be an educator, yet not sit in the seat of the “driver of knowledge”. Second Life’s very nature disrupts traditional teaching/learning continuum. What a pleasant disruption.

I premise that by the time an emerging or another disruptive technology replaces Second Life, the educational arena will have understood it full value in the quest to enhance student learning outcomes. The tendency for educators to jump on the technology wagon is an arduous process.

Rosedale, P. (2008). Phillip Rosedale on second life. http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/the_inspiration_of_second_life.html

Dewey, J. (1938/1997). Experience and education. Touchstone: NY.

Module 1: Blog Responses

I have responded to the following blog posts:


Lewis Chappelear

Video conferencing is definitely "new age" technology within the school district I currently work: at least among teacher and local administrative colleagues. It is interesting to note how many other industries are more receptive to new technologies in efforts to enhance efficiency. Yet, the very institution that is entrusted to equip students for future endeavors on a professional level is lagging in its adoption of "new technologies".

Cathy Marziali

It has been a push of mine for several years within my building to update current technologies. The interactive response system is one of those technological pushes. The students become so engaged until it is not realized that learning is actually taking place.

Module 2: Blog Responses

I have responded to the following blog posts:

Lewis Chappelear

The evolution and progression of the smartphone never ceases to bring amazement. Not only is the current technology becoming a combined communication and pda, it is also becoming an entertainment system in one small device. My daugthers use their Android phones as Amazon Kindle Readers, Netflix receivers, as well as pda and communication devices. Fascinating...


Cathy Marziali

It has become so interesting how our current technologies were once only imaginations within the world of entertainment. Remember the fliphones from Star Trek? I premise that you only have to look to the entertainment world to realize the future technologies.

Module 3: Blog Responses

I have responded to the following Blog Posts:


Lewis Chappelear

Your analogy of how Second Life serves as present-day theatre entertainment on the internet is one that I had not considered until this present discussion. The fact that virtual worlds allows one to enjoy an alternate reality is indeed similar to the theater. It is interesting that the Second Life concept has been extended to the realm of video conferencing. I ponder as does Cathy, the social, political, economic, and psychological implications of the immersion of virtual worlds. The Rhymes of History have certainly given us food for thought.


Cathy Marziali

I concur with Mr. Chappelear; your transition from Module 2 to 3 is interesting indeed. What is more interesting is the fact that many individuals depend on GPS navigation apps to assist them in gettng to their destination; yet many of those same individuals may have not been too keen on the concept of utilizing the paper map version.

Module 3: Rhymes of History - Google Upward

As I viewed Kevin Kelly’s 2007 discourse, “Kevin Kelly on the next 5000 days on the Web”, over the TED network, I found fascinating his analogies of the progress of the web, and where we will be heading in the future.

Kelly introduces the concept of “co-dependency” on the web. His example of this is eloquently illustrated on his no longer having to know a number: what he does not know he simply Google’s the number to obtain it. Yes, I do that now. I don’t keep any information: I simply find Google search engine on my Blackberry to locate the information I believe I need. It is simple, quick, and since I am in possession a Blackberry, just plain simple to access. I no longer need Directory Assistance (at almost $2.00 per call, I can certainly live without DA).

Upon first hearing this discourse, I was shocked at how accurate his analogy had become. This co-dependency is the main purpose for the rise in smart phone and their respective applications. There is an application for everything, and our co dependent nature has lead us to the need for such applications. “There is an app for that” is now the most commonly used phrase one hears with respect to mobile devices.

I was further shocked to liken this “co-dependency” on the internet to the co dependency we currently have on the technology of alphabet and the written word: we simply cannot exist without it. Funny, I never thought of alphabet and writing as being co-dependent within the realm of human existence, yet we are hampered by our very communication with members of our community, society, and world this essential form. How thought provoking his analogies.
Hmm…I wonder will it be an app in the future for that…

Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next 5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

Tetrads: Evolution of Smart Phone Technologies

I appreciated this assignment as it afforded the opportunity to take a look back at how far Celluar Phone Technologies have evoluted within such a short period of time. Although the first mobile phone was invented in 1947, the first sale occurred in 1983.

The Mobile Phone has enjoyed a rapid evolution of appearance, style, and capabilities in less than a 30-year timespan. Can anyone remember when the phone was so bulky until it was impossible to place in your pocket? Or remember the costs incurred in purchasing "airtime"? Now, Everyone owns these devices, with the threat of making landlines obsolete within the near future: Smart Phones are becoming the communication device of choice for both home and work. What a difference a few decades make...

Module 1: Trends 2011

As I reflect on the current question on technologies shaping the current teaching and learning within my profession of education, I cannot help by marvel at the rise of interest in mobile learning to deliver quality educational content. Mobile learning definition, although broad in spectrum, for purposes of this present discussion, is restricted to the educational content delivered via smartphones: Android, Google, and Blackberry OS Systems. Functional uses include download of audio and visual, play movies, accesses email (I have four accounts), edit and display text documents, web access, and mass storage capabilities.

The expansion of delivery of educational content via a tool that has become a part of our everyday lives promises to provide another avenue for learner engagement: or so one would think. The study of Pan, Shen, Novack, & Pan (2009) study findings support the benefit of incorporating smartphones within a blended classroom delivery system. Learning engagement increased significantly; a surprising indication given the rigid system delivery methodology. Smartphones support collaboration and engagement: interactive learning.

Yet, with the perceived benefits this method of delivery may be overshadowed by the challenges faced in incorporating smartphone educational content delivery within their respective institutions. Corbeil and Corbeil, in an article published in Educase Quarterly 2007, premises while mobile phones are readily available for everyday usage does not necessarily indicate that we are ready to experience this tool within our educational halls. The cons indicated by the authors’ are the small screens, virtual/small keyboards are inefficient for instructional usage, and the potential high costs.

It will be interesting to see how the academic community addresses the drawbacks of smartphone design as it seeks more avenues with which to engage their learning constitutes.

Corbeil, J.R & Valdes-Corbeil, M.E. (2007). Are you ready for mobile learning? Educase Quarterly, 30(2). http://www.educause.edu/EDUCAUSE+Quarterly/EDUCAUSEQuarterlyMagazineVolum/AreYouReadyforMobileLearning/157455

Wang M. , Shen R., Novak D,. & Pan, X. (2009) The impact of mobile learning on students’
Learning behaviours and performance: Report from a large blended classroom. The British Journal of Educational Technology. Vol.40 (4). P. 673-695.