State of Current and Emerging Technologies

Brent Williams, PhDDirector, KSU ETC

brent@speakwisdom.com

Doing More With Less

• The Mantra of Technology• New Technologies are

– Powerful– Small– Portable– Less Expensive

• Trying, trying…

Searching for Ways to Improve Learning

• What’s Working?– Electronic White Boards– iPod – like devices and podcasts– Real 1-to-1

• What’s Not Working?– The same stuff!

• Same Old Problem: Teachers don’t know how to Use (Facilitate) – Need Training

Newest Technologies

Electronic White Boards

• Two Big Players– SMART, Promethean– Dozens of others– Lessons tied to standards

• What works?– Engages Students

• What doesn’t work– Teachers use as just a white-board

Leading Edge

• Epson 450 Wi– Any smooth surface becomes an EWB

Student Response Systems

• Near real-time assessment data• Available to Teacher and District• Engaging for Students• Teachers need training!• Edutrax (Cobb)

No More Buying PCs

Handheld Devices

• MP3 Players– iTouch– Zune, and many more

• Netbooks– 10” display, very light, long battery life

• What works?– Power to learn in hands of students

• What doesn’t work?– Teachers don’t know how to use

iPad

• Unique device with attractive price• iPhone OS• Ereader• Browser• iWorks• Keyboard• Points to

Future

Wireless Networks

• Wireless N• Eliminate wiring• Wireless G is Legacy

– Problems, Problems

• Security– Better than wire– WPA– 802.1x

Getting Outside

• Bypassing your network– Teachers and Students

• You can’t filter or block it• Cell data, Wimax, and more• Growing from frustration• Balance

Thin Client

• Deserves more of a look• Dramatic support reduction• Better security• Low cost end user device• Full access from home

Electronic Books

• Proprietary– Amazon– PDF

• Finally, an open standard– Epub (replaces Ebook)

• Ereader Device– iPad, Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc. etc.

• Ereader Software– Kindle, Nook, Blio, etc.

Distance Education

• Virtual School• Virtual Courses• School to Site• Hardware/Software

– Web-cams– Elluminate– Skype– Gtalk– Network Bandwidth

The Biggest Trend• Obsolesce of current technology• Replaced by very portable, cheap

wireless client devices• Students will have technology with

them 24/7• Schools and teachers) (and policy)

must adapt

Your Questions or Comments?