Module 2: Emerging Technologies Tetrad

Our group selected the Lytro camera as our emerging technology. The Lytro camera offers a new approach to photography. Focus has challenged photographers since the very beginning. In 1839 the Parisian magazine, Charivari reported the following problems with Daguerre’s brand-new photographic process (Newhall, 1976).

“You want to make a portrait of your wife. You fit her head in a fixed iron collarto give the required immobility, thus holding the world still for the time being. You point the camera lens at her face; but alas, you make a mistake of a fraction of an inch, and when you take out the portrait it doesn’t represent your wife –it’s her parrot, her watering pot – or worse.”

This new camera provides a resolution for the focusing problem. You can view images of the Lytro camera that provides diagrams and explanations at http://stadium.weblogsinc.com/engadget/files/Lytro_FCC_User_Guide_November_2011.pdf. The Lytro camera refines the already awesome digital camera as we know it today.  As with any emerging technology it presents both pros and cons. A picture of the camera along with an itemized list of the pros and cons can be found at this website - http://www.spencergordon.com/2011/12/15/lytro-camera-a-pro-or-a-con/.

References:

Newhall, B. 1976. The Daguerreotype in America, 3rd rev. ed. New York: Dover.

Identify an Emerged Technology (Module 1)

Technology is constantly advancing; educators can provide meaningful lessons that captivate the students’ attention. As an educator, I have had the privilege of teaching in a traditional classroom; however, I have had the opportunity to further my education in a non-traditional learning environment. 

Identify a current technology that has emerged in the last few years that shapes learning or productively in your industry.  The current technology that has emerged in our classrooms in the last few years is the Mimio board. This exceptional technology makes instructional delivery faster, captures the students’ attention, and helps to move at a faster pace. 

What problems or challenges have been associated with this technology?  The first problem was getting the staff trained. The training came after the technology was installed in the classroom.  Although, we have had training, we need time to apply our skills and to practice what we have learned. The training provided took place during our planning period, and the trainer did not allow hands on experiences (due to  time restraints). Also, it has been hard to get replacement bulbs for the installed projectors due to their cost. 

What societal need does it meet, and what are its benefits?  It is an interactive board that allows students to interact with classmates as well as other students in other school settings. The benefits are faster instructional delivery, wealth of resources, interaction for students and content, and the promotion of student’s attention.  Educators like the Mimio board because it does not take up the white board space like the Promethean boards do. There is no screen attached to the white magnetic board. 

What would make this technology even better, avoiding the pitfalls you identified?  It would be great if we had the access to control the Mimio from anywhere in our classroom. There is a Mimio Pad wireless tablet that frees you from standing in front of the classroom. It would enable instructors to create and present interactive lessons from anywhere in the classroom via Mimio Teach technology. Students would have the opportunity to participate from their seats.

URL link:  http://www.mimio.dymo.com/Products/MimioClassroom-Family-of-Products.aspx