Emerging Technology: Research Paper

Sydne Faith Yanez

College of Southern Nevada
3/13/2015

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Have you ever sat back and looked at how much technology has taken over the lives of
many Americans? Many people are becoming overwhelmed with technology today. Technology
is constantly changing and does not seem to be easing up. According to the Pew Centers Internet
and American Life Project Eighty-three percent of American adults have cell phones, nearly 90
percent own some kind of computerized device, and Three in four Americans between the ages
of 18 and 29 use social media. (Ringham, E.) With those numbers its hard to imagine life
without technology.
As of today children have phones by the time they are in middle school, some even
younger. Lets not forget about the other types of technology that they are surrounded by when
they are at home. Many are exposed to their parents smart phones, computers, laptops, tablets,
game consoles at home. The national survey of 1,463 parents found that television viewing
continues to take up most of the time that children spend with media. Six out of 10 children
watch TV every day, compared with 17 percent of children who use a mobile device daily. The
number of children using mobile devices daily doubled from 8 percent two years ago. And
28 percent of children use a mobile device each week. (Kang, C)
We need to be careful to introduce technology in thoughtful ways or else we will be left
with another generation of teachers who see technology as nothing but overpriced distractions
rather than useful teaching tools. (Lynch, M) Many people out there will argue that bringing
technology into the educational atmosphere will hinder ones learning. However many disagree
and believe technology is the right set in helping children succeed in school. As school districts
around the country consider investments in technology in an effort to improve students
outcomes, a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education and the Stanford Center for
Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) finds that technology when implemented properly

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

can produce significant gains in students achievements and boost engagement, particularly
among students at risk. (Technology can close achievement gaps, improve learning) Also
technology can benefit those with special needs. Technology can provide a voice for students
who cannot speak, physical assistance for those who cannot move, and alternative input
modalities for those who cannot see or hear. (Lever-Duffy, J., & McDonald, J.) If experts say
adding technology will benefit students learning then it is up to the educators on how to apply it
to their curriculum. There are many emerging technologies out there that will help make students
want to come to school and learn as well as make life for the teachers a little easier.
One of the up and coming emerging technologies is Cloud Computing. The cloud-based
Brazilian Electroni c Learning Organizer helps language teachers produce and share digital
learning objects and activities for their students. The learning objects are created by the teacher
or assembled from a resource repository created by other teachers in the network. (Homes, J)
The Cloud allows teachers to share documents and other digital activities with their students
via the cloud. The cloud also then allows the students to access assignments and submit papers
back to the teachers through the cloud. It is said that within one year, cloud computing in K-12
schools is expected to consume a quarter of the entire IT budget; four years from now, that figure
will grow 35 percent. (Weaver, D)
A few benefits Cloud Computing would have in the classroom and in the educational
atmosphere overall is its storage, accessibility, collaboration, and time. One good thing about the
cloud is it can store all types of data like PowerPoints, word documents, etc. Another good thing
about Cloud Computing is its accessibility. Students and teachers do not have to be in the same
room as each other. They can be at home and accessing their homework or uploading homework.
Which brings me to the next awesome trait the Cloud Computing has to offer is it allows teachers

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

and students to communicate through the cloud, which also ties into another benefit of saving
time. With it not only being able to communicate via the cloud, teachers no longer have to spend
countless hours a year taking trips to the copy room to make copies of papers to pass out during
class.
The Cloud would not be possible in a classroom our at home if students are not allowed
or do not have access to some type of Mobile Technology. Mobile Technology is another type of
emerging technology. Mobile Technology allows for teachers and students to have quick access
to information through hand held devices. Some examples of mobile technologies are smart
phones, tablets, and Ipads. By the end of this year, the mobile market is expected to consist of
over seven billion accounts (equating to about 3.4 billion users, or one in every two people on
the planet); mobile traffic on the Internet is expected to surpass desktop traffic; and mobile users
will have downloaded seventy billion apps across smart phones and tablets. Educational apps are
the second-most downloaded in iTunes of all categories, surpassing both entertainment and
business apps in popularity. (Homes, J) However, elementary through high school students are
seen with the most success with Cloud Computing.
A few advantages of mobile technology are: it will save money on text books. Textbooks
become outdated every year; schools do not have the money to purchase the up to date textbook
every year. Digital textbooks will be able to provide students with the newest information.
Digital textbooks will also keep students more organized. When I was in high school I had to
carry at least five textbooks. Students would not have to worry about losing textbooks if schools
had more digital textbooks. I believe the best advantage mobile technology has to offer is the
instant access students have to their materials.

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

How cool would it be if you could sit at home in your pajamas while being connected
with a room full of students, watching the teacher demonstrates that days lecture in 3D? Imagine
taking a language class that allowed you to connect with students from across the world. Well
you could do all that and more with another awesome emerging technology known as LED
Holograms. A hologram is a three dimensional image. LED Hologram makes it possible for
teachers to be in-person while teaching a lecture, all from different locations.
The advantages of Holograms are it helps educators teach their lectures to as many
students as they want, from wherever they want, and whenever they want. Highly talented
professors or educators can share their knowledge with thousands of students globally at the
same time. Its similar to the concept of MOOCs, but its even more effective because learners
can see you in person in 3D. Your lecture can be watched by many students sitting in multiple
lecture halls. Its highly economical, time saving, effectively engaging idea and also saves your
precious effort. (Bhaskar K, S.)
MOOCs is another emerging technology, similar to holograms. MOOCs allow educators
to teach classes online regardless of your location. A number of respected thought leaders
believe that the current MOOCs model has deviated significantly from the initial premise
outlined by George Siemens and Stephen Downes in 2008, emphasizing lecture over
connectivity. The hope is that they will eventually strike a balance between automating the
assessment process while delivering personalized, authentic learning opportunities. (Homes, J)
More than 230,000 students from more than 180 countries have enrolled in massive open online
classes, known as MOOCs, offered by UNC since July 2013. (Kilmartin, K.)
After doing my research on MOOCs it seems like there are many advantages. A few are,
by it offering classes to anyone it opens up the age rang. Meaning there are students in high

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

school to people who already have a degree using MOOCs. Another advantage is it is bringing
together a large diversity of people from all around the world. It opens up doors for people in
Russia, Africa, Etc. It also extends learning to those who do not have transport on a daily or
weekly basis.
Another type of emerging technology is 3D printing. 3D printing is believed to enter
schools in the next four to five years. 3D printing is a technology that allows users to turn any
digital file into a three dimensional physical product. (Importance of 3D Printing in Education)
3D printing will give educators the opportunity to give students a three dimensional visual aid to
go along with that days lecture. By adding the three dimensional opportunity students will be
able to better understand what they are learning with a more hands on type of learning. Also,
what kid wouldnt love to see a printer print out a 3D object that they are learning about that day
in class? Come on, how cool would that be? Geology and anthropology students, for instance,
can make and interact with models of fossils and other artifacts, and organic chemistry students
can print out models of complex proteins and other molecules through rapid prototyping and
production tools. (Homes, J)
As school districts around the country consider investments in technology in an effort to
improve students outcomes, a new report from the Alliance for Excellent Education and the
Stanford Center for Opportunity Policy in Education (SCOPE) finds that technology when
implemented properly can produce significant gains in students achievements and boost
engagement, particularly among students at risk. (Technology can close achievement gaps,
improve learning) As technology is constantly changing and does not seem to be easing up, I
believe it is up to the educators to apply technology to their classroom. Technology will be
around us for a long time and emerging technologies like these can only help educate children of

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

the future if it is used properly. I cant wait to see what the technology will be like when I am
teaching in a few years!
Citations
Bhaskar K, S. (2013, August 20). Potential and Applications of Holograms To Engage Learners.
Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://edtechreview.in/trends-insights/trends/521applications-of-holograms-to-engage-learners
Homes, J. (2014, December 4). Tech 2.0 Education & Knowledge Resources. Retrieved March
13, 2015, from https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/blogs/82288880-044e425b-8c33-eff85a81d066/entry/10-emerging-technologies?lang=en
Importance of 3D Printing in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved March 13, 2015, from
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/03/importance-of-3d-printing-in-education.html
Kang, C. (2013, October 28). Survey: For young children, mobile devices such as tablets,
smartphones now a mainstay. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/survey-for-young-children-mobiledevices-such-as-tablets-smartphones-now-a-mainstay/2013/10/27/7e386f3c-3f1f-11e3-a62441d661b0bb78_story.html
Kilmartin, K. (2014, November 21). MOOCs at UNC benefit students, professors alike.
Retrieved March 13, 2015, from http://www.dailytarheel.com/article/2014/11/moocs-at-uncbenefit-students-professors-alike
Lever-Duffy, J., & McDonald, J. (2007). Teaching & Learning with Technology EDU 214
Preparing Teachers To Use Technology (College of Southern Nevada ed.). ISTE.

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

Lynch, M. (2013, August 12). Mobile Technology in K-12 Classrooms: More Than a Question of
Cost. Retrieved March 13, 2015, from
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/education_futures/2013/08/mobile_technology_in_k12_classrooms
Ringham, E. (2011, October 11). Has technology taken over too much of our lives? Retrieved
March 12, 2015, from http://blogs.mprnews.org/todays-question/2011/10/has-technologytaken-over-too-much-of-our-lives/
Technology can close achievement gaps, improve learning. (2014, September 10). Retrieved
March 13, 2015, from https://ed.stanford.edu/news/technology-can-close-achievement-gapsand-improve-learning-outcomes
Wainwright, A. (n.d.). 4 Benefits of having mobile technology in the classroom. Retrieved March
13, 2015, from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/Strategy-blog/4-Benefits-of-havingmobile-technology-in-the-classroom
Weaver, D. (2013, April 1). Six Advantages of Cloud Computing in Education. Retrieved
March 13, 2015, from http://www.pearsonschoolsystems.com/blog/?
p=1507#sthash.Jt6RlYw5.uSmkiXPq.dpbs

Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGY