Running head: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 1

Emerging Technology

Yvonne Gallardo

College of Southern Nevada

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES 2

Abstract

This research paper examines 6 published articles and one book to show how three emerging

technologies are helping teachers and students. Technology keeps advancing; its main purpose is

to help humans in their lives. People rely on technology for everyday tasks; it almost seems

impossible to live in a world without technology. In the education field the emerging

technologies that are necessary for teachers to have are wearable technology, three-dimensional

printing and game-based learning. Wearable electronic devices, such as the microphone, help

teachers to be clear and loud enough, so that their students can understand the educational

material better. Also, teachers will be able to save their voices. Three-dimensional printing

allows for teachers to have a better presentation of what they are teaching and students will have

a better idea of what is being presented to them. Game-based learning is about incorporating

electronical games that will engage the students in their learning. This approach will also help

give the students a brain break and can be used as a positive reinforcement tool. These emerging

technologies can be used for all grade levels, and will have a positive impact in education.

Keywords: emerging technologies, wearable technology, three dimensional, game-based learning

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Emerging Technologies

Over the last decades, humans have been able to witness the growth in technology and

how it has affected the world. Some are against technology, but most can agree that it has

bettered human live. In today’s world almost everyone owns an electronic device out of

necessity or just for entertainment. Emerging technology devices such as: iPads, computers,

mobile phones, printers and others assist humans in everyday tasks. When looking at the

education field, one can see how much technology has helped classrooms. Many students are

able to have a better understanding of the content being taught by their educators because of

these electronic devices. These electronic devices are beneficial as tools, so that teachers can be

more effective in their classrooms. In their book Teaching and Learning with Technology, Judy

Lever-Duffy and Jean McDonald explain why technology is important in the education field and

give information about numerous technology devices (2015). There are also articles that explain

how technology is bettering the life of many individuals, including students. The three

technology tools that teachers must have in their classrooms are wearable technology, three-

dimensional printing and game-based learning.

Wearable technology is interesting and effective. In “Wearable Technology” by Gabe

Grifoni, he states, “Wearable technology has the opportunity to change the way we work,”

(2015) which is true. Wearable technology is basically any electronic device that one can put on

and be hands free, such as blue tooth, headphones, watches, among other devices. Humans are

by nature multi-taskers and are constantly on the go with their hands full of work- related

matters. The most effective wearable device that helps students and teachers in the classroom is

the hands-free microphone. It benefits the classroom by helping the voice of the speaker be

heard more effectively, especially when it is important information that is being presented. In
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Michelle Galley’s article “Classroom Microphones Make Voices Louder, Clearer,” she writes

about how the wearable microphone saves a teacher’s voice and allows for students to listen

clearly (2002). Also, “Speech and language experts say the new systems can help children both

with and without learning hearing impairments.” Thanks to these devices, teachers’ voices can

be carried across the room regardless of any noise. From a teacher’s perspective this wearable

technology device allows them to have better control of their classroom and be able to transmit

the educational material in a more effective way. Some teachers sometimes get sick and can

hardly speak, but these devices are a major support for such days. From a student’s perspective,

they will be able to understand and listen better to their teacher. There are some classrooms that

have more students than the average classroom, and keeping control can be a challenge, but

wearable microphones serve as a tool to help the students and teachers communicate. This

device is useful for any grade level.

Students have different learning styles, but they cannot deny that they enjoy seeing

images coming out of the screen and being able to put them in three- dimensional format. This

device works by printing images that one will be able to transform into a three dimensional

figure. In the article, “The 3 D Printing Age and Basic Sciences Education,” by Safaa El. Bialy,

he says “The primary advantage of this technique is its ability to create almost any shape or

geometric feature” (2016). Being able to do that is important because it allows the individual/s

to explore and have a better understanding of shapes and geometric figures. As mentioned in the

same article “This technological development is becoming more and more popular. Eventually, it

will impact every single aspect of our lives.” This technology device is helping the future

generations understand what they are being taught and that is why it is important to have it in

classrooms. In Chapter 8 of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Duffy and McDonald
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explain how three dimensional printing works in a more extensive manner: “Three-dimensional

images are those rendered so that they appear to have depth and can be manipulated to maintain

the appearance of depth as the image is rotated” (p.180). Being able to handle the figures can

give an individual a better perspective. In the article “3-D Printing in Your Libraries and

Classrooms,” Heather Moorefield-Lang explains how “printers allow users to print the physical

world that surrounds us.” For the teachers, three-dimensional printing will impact their style of

teaching by being able to present their students with a solid figure instead of just showing it on a

screen. For the most part, students like to see the actual object in front of them and this will

allow teachers to have better presentations. For students, they will have a better understanding

of shapes and geometric figures. Their knowledge will expand by seeing the solid image

presented to them. Even though the subject of geometry is not taken until middle or high school,

teachers can begin preparing the elementary students and introducing them to three dimensional

shapes and figures with the help of printing. Students from all grade levels will benefit from this

technology device because it will give them a hands on experience.

Game-based learning is a fun way that technology helps students learn. In the article

“Game-Based Learning,” Susan Bloom states, “Although parents sometimes consider video

games to be an obstacle to their children's education, the same technology that keeps adolescent

eyes glued to the television for hours is now being used as an educational tool.” Game-based

learning works by allowing students to learn while they are entertained. There are numerous

websites that have games for a variety of subjects and students enjoy learning while playing

these games. Playing educational games helps a classroom by keeping the students entertained

and engaged in learning. The classroom environment will be more educational and relaxed if the

teacher incorporates game-based learning. Duffy and McDonald state, “Educational game
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software offers a familiar and comfortable environment for active learning” (p. 188). Students

like to feel comfortable and game-based learning is an effective way for them to learn. In the

article “Digital Game-Based Learning,” Hiller A. Spires mentions how “game players establish

shared language and understandings within a game,” meaning that students are able to

understand concepts better in an entertaining and game-based scenario. In a teacher’s

perspective, having digital games is a great tool to keep the students engaged and entertained.

Sometimes students get exhausted and need a different method that will transmit the educational

material. Also, if a teacher wants to reward the students, or give them a brain break, using game-

based learning will be an effective way for the teacher to do so. From a student’s perspective,

they will enjoy learning while having fun. Students like to feel that adrenaline rush and will

memorize material more effectively if they do something they enjoy. This type of technology

can be integrated at any grade level, starting from elementary all the way to high school.

Students like to play games regardless of their age. Some of those games include competing

with each other and students tend to be very interested in such activities.

In conclusion, wearable technology, three-dimensional printing and game-based learning

are three major technology tools that will help classrooms. Technology keeps advancing, and it

is important to stay updated and pass the knowledge on to future generations. Technology

should be used to assist educators in their classrooms and create a positive environment. The

overall goal as an educator is to keep the students engaged in their education and help them reach

their full potential. Teachers need support and these technology tools are here to help. They will

make the classroom environment a more pleasant one. Students will be able to learn and

communicate effectively with one another and their teacher. Many decades ago, teachers had to

rely on limited sources in order to educate their students. The days of just using a board, pencil,
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and paper are long gone. Technology keeps advancing and teachers need to do the same.

Teachers have many technological tools that can assist them in their goal of educating and

building our future leaders.

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References

Bloom, S. (2009). Game-based learning. Professional Safety, 54(7), 18-21. Retrieved from

http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/200396686?

accountid=27953

El Bialy, S. (2016). The 3 D printing age and basic sciences education. Education in Medicine

Journal, 8(4) doi:10.5959/eimj.v8i4.458

Galley, M. (2016, May 06). Classroom Microphones Make Voices Louder, Clearer. Retrieved

February 14, 2017, from

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2002/05/15/36headset.h21.html

Grifoni, G. (2015). Wearable technology. Defense Transportation Journal, 71(6), 23.

Lever-Duffy, J., & McDonald, J. B. (2017). Teaching and learning with technology. Florida:

Pearson Education.

MoorefieId-Lang, H. (2014). 3-D printing in your libraries and classrooms. Knowledge Quest,

43(1), 70-72. Retrieved from

http://ezproxy.library.csn.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/1561141068

?accountid=27953

Spires, H. A. (2015). Digital Game-Based Learning. Journal Of Adolescent & Adult Literacy,

59(2), 125-130. doi:10.1002/jaal.424