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Presented by Larry Edelman

June 24, 2010National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB)

Technology? Us? Now?

Why

A discussion about..

• How digital communication is changing everything about how we build relationships, communicate, and learn.

• Ways to think about technology that can help us feel less overwhelmed and achieve a better sense of how technology can be used to enhance our work.

• Planning how to practically adopt the use of new technologies.

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What is technology?

…anything invented after you were born. – Alan Kay

…anything that doesn’t work yet. – Danny Hillis

…anything useful invented by a mind. – Kevin Kelly

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Context is not important.

Context is everything.

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Digital communication is changing everything about how

we build relationships, communicate, and learn

We Have Added New Ways That WeBuild Relationships, Communicate, Learn

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Take or teach a F2F, synchronous, instructor-led course class

Take or teach an online, asynchronous, instructor-independent course

F2F, phone conferencing Video, web conferencing

Send an email Send a text or IM

DVD Online video

Send a document for review Shared documents

Go to a singles bar Online dating, Chatroulette

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More Capacity

Modular

Cheaper

Easier

Why are we able to do it?

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Improve effectivene

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Reducecosts

Increase access

Engage a younger

workforce

Why use more technology?

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Ways of thinking about technology that can help us feel less overwhelmed and achieve

a better sense of how technology can be used to

enhance our work

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We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the

effect in the long run.

Roy Amara, Institute for the Future

First, focus on function

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What do you want to with technology?Conduct needs assessment/front end analysisPresent professional development eventsProvide TA, consultation, coaching, mentoringDisseminate news, updates, documentsHost/facilitate meetings, conferencesFacilitate collaborative processesBuild and strengthen relationshipsEvaluate activities and programsFacilitate social learningExchange information with othersEnhance service deliveryConduct researchManage projectsManage data (including collection, analysis, reporting)

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Sharecontext

Build and strengthen relationship

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Createcontent

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Then focus on technology

The uneven quality of first-generation digital learning sometimes leaves an impression more of hokum than of transformation. But the second generation will not. Andy Hoffman,Director, American History and Civics Initiative

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Examples of…One-Way

Asynchronous Communication

Two-WaySynchronous

Communication

AsynchronousSynergistic

CommunicationText document Text-based chat Online survey

Podcast Telephone conferencing Content management system Webcast Video conferencing Community of practice Video, vidcast Webinar, web conference Virtual learning environment

Media sharing sites Online meetings spaces Bulletin board, news groupMobile-phone Mobile-phone Mobile-phoneArchived class, lecture Chats, threads, list servesRapid e-learning modules Blog, micro-blog, vlog Just-in-time EPSS Wiki Resource repositories Social bookmarkingKnowledge bases Social network

Shared applications

User’s groups/forums

Then focus on technology

Modularity is Key

Hardware Connecting a scanner to a computer

Learning ObjectsEmbedding learning objects in webcasts, PPT, etc.

ApplicationsConducting a video conference using Skype, recording it with

Callburner, and editing it with Audacity

What Have I Been Using This Week?

Video conferencing: ooVoo

Web conferencing: Adobe Connect, dimdim, iLinc

Collaboration: Google Docs

Social bookmarking: Delicious

Video: Final Cut

PPT hosting: slideshare

PPT alternatives: prezi

Rapid elearnng: Articulate Studio

Rich media movies: Animoto

Avatars: xtranormal

Video screen capture: Screenr, Camtasia

Audio recording and editing: Audacity

Blog: WordPress

Social networks: Ning

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Approaches that may be useful in planning how to practically

adopt the use of new technologies

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Shifts in my thinkingSupporting Performance

providing PD and TA supporting performance

knowledge based (what was) problem-based (what is)

preparation just-in-time

expert-facilitated learner (performer)-directed

instruction navigation

comprehensive curriculum pliable learning objectsProducts

proprietary open contentunique modular

Strategiessummative evaluation frequent data collection

long-term development rapid productionuse what I know learn new skills

“best” strategy integrating applicationsIT as limiting IT as enabling

ideas execution

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An encounter group for procrastinators.

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Ways to approach learning about new media

Examine and ADJUST your job description – frequently

Recognize yourself as a lifelong learner and COMMIT to learning about technology intentionally, not just serendipitously

DEDICATE enough time to learning about new technology – it’s not a distraction, it’s an essential part of our jobs; It’s unlikely you’ll find more time – reallocate how you spend it

Stay focused on UTILITY and INTEREST – you don’t have to learn about everything

Get better at SEARCHING, look outside your field, consume blogs

Just DO something: be constructivist, take risks, apply it to your personal life, try to create something before you really know how, have fun

Think BUSINESS model: create a mock-up, develop a proof of concept, pilot, get feedback, collect data, measure the impact

Look for new ALLIANCES: Find a learning partner, co-explorer, teacher, geek

Low Risk ExploringDownload the free applications resource packet:http://exploringtech.wordpress.com/

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