Educational Technology
1- Discussion: What’s Hot and Why?(What makes a hot topic in educational technology? In this module, you will analyze the differences among issues, fads, and trends)
There are many educational technologies that gain a high level of attention and are considered hot topics. However, there is no guarantee that they will remain in use for an extended period of time. Will these technologies set a new trend or be merely fads or issues? In any field of study, there are critically important issues that are addressed, such as the one many of us face on a daily basis: how to Improve learning in the field of education. Trends represent approaches used to address issues. For example, think back on the excitement surrounding online virtual reality (in particular, Second Life) in the mid-2000s, as well as the enthusiasm surrounding MOOCs (Massive Online Open Courses) in the early 2010s. Both of these started as fads and appear to be settling into stable trends as the education community experiments with their uses and discovers when and how these technologies support learning. Fads are “spikes in interest” in a specific approach to an issue. A fad may develop over time into a stable trend, or it may not.
To prepare for this Discussion, listen to the Podcast and view the video Keeping Up With Trends, AND Generate a list of the current hot topics that interest you or topics that might be interesting to educators.
http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.
POST YOUR ANSWER TO THIS PROMPT: (THINK IN TERMS OF BEING A LEADER IN THE FIELD)
“Select three topics in educational technology and explain why they are “hot” and how you became aware of these topics. Explain whether you believe each topic you identified is an issue, a fad, or a trend. Justify your position by providing citations and references from others in the field. Include the potential for these technologies and who is promoting them.”
Learning Objectives
- Analyze hot topics in educational technology
- Evaluate technology classification of issues, fads, and trends
- Create infographics
- Develop Personal Learning Networks
- Analyze educational technology resources
ANSWER PREVIEW
WORDS 361