McLuhan's+Tetrad

====**Please click on a name to jump to their contribution. Names have been arranged alphabetically:** **Bryan | David | Deanna| Jennifer | Katie |Sara| Susan**====

**Susan's Summary of APP2**
It seems to me that the world of education is often lagging behind environments where technology is revolutionizing the ways people operate. The classroom is not commonly the first place to pioneer technological advancements. In our school, gesture-based computing centers exclusively round our interactive whiteboards. Certainly, some teachers and students are privately using the technology on their smartphones but only the Smartboards are used for teaching and learning. Gesture based computing is not yet well established, which is why I considered it to be a good example of an emerging technology. **McLuhan’s Laws of Media** Thornburg (2008) introduced us to McLuhan’s Tetrad as a multi-faceted lens through which all media could be analyzed. Since the first desktop computers arrived in mainstream education very little has changed with regards to the way users control the machinery. Indeed, it was really only the invention of the early mobile devices that lead to innovations such trackpads as an alternative to the traditional mouse and keyboards controls. Gesture-based computing offers yet another, and potentially more inspiring, means of interacting with technology. Most commonly used in smartphone technology and all mobile Apple devices, users can scroll through images with a flick of their finger. As the Horizon Report reminded us, gesture-based computing is “a potentially transformative technology” (Johnson, Levine, Smith & Stone, 2010, p. 26). It radically changes the way people think about operating technology. Gesture-based computing has a potentially significant impact on teaching and learning, most significantly for students with special learning needs. Centuries ago, young apprentices learned their skills in small groups by replicating the Master’s actions. So many of these practical skills have been eliminated from our curriculum as class sizes have grown and learning has become more centered on reading and writing. Another use for gesture based technolgy would be for creating simulations that provide safe environments for the practice of hazardous science experiments. As pedagogy continues to move towards 21st century flexible grouping strategies, there is a practical advantage to “larger multi-touch displays (that) support collaborative work, allowing multiple users to interact with content simultaneously” (Johnson, Levine, Smith & Stone, 2010, p. 26). Unlike previous disruptive innovations such as the wireless mouse, trackpads, and keyboard shortcuts, gesture based computing is a truly disruptive technology. A disruptive technology creates an entirely new market, leading to an obsoleting of the previous market leader - in this case hardware input devices. By now it might seem that gesture-based computing is sure to pave the way for the future, however McLuhan’s Tetrad reminds us that every new development is also on its way to becoming obsolete. So, what is it that might replace gesture-based computing? The truth of this is perhaps only just around the corner. The Kinect Nat Geo TV is an exciting new development about to be released. Kinect is a motion-sensing device created by Microsoft for the Xbox 360 console. Kinect and National Geographic Television have come together in an attempt to turn living rooms into cyber-habitats. The same could eventually be true in classrooms. In conjunction with 3D projection software, the future of interactive interfaces will likely be holographic, virtual worlds where students interact with all their senses just as they do in the real world. As Jackson (2010) reminded us “With technology there are no ends, but what may appear to be an end is the beginning or the unlocking of new experiences” (p. 20). One thing is for certain, technological developments are likely to continue apace.
 * Enhancing**
 * Retrieving**
 * Obsoleting and Reversing**

**References** Jackson,V.E., (2010). //Critical theory and science fiction//. Minneapolis, MN: Mill City Press. Johnson, L., Levine, A., Smith, R., & Stone, S. (2010) //The 2010 Horizon Report//. New Media Consortium and Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved from ERIC database.(E510220) Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). //New and emerging technologies//. Baltimore, MD: Author. Serim, F., & Schrock, K. (2007). Nailing digital jelly to a virtual tree. //Learning & Leading With// //Technology//, //35//(4), 12–16. Retrieved from the Walden University Library. Soloway, E. (n.d.) //Emerging v. Emerged Technologies// [podcast]. Retrieved November 3, 2011

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Deanna's Submission: Dataphones for Math and Science
It is not financially viable in present day schools to ensure technology is always current. However, education can include current technologies if we allow students to capitalize on the use of the up-to-date devices they are already using outside of school. It is no longer possible to enforce widespread bans on technologies that were once seen as gateways to potentially harmful content and invitation for poor choices. These technologies permeate our students’ lives, so it is imperative that we allow them to replace the antiquated tools we currently demand they use.



Smith, M. (2011, October 18). Omnitouch projection interface makes the world our touchscreen (video). //Engadget//, Retrieved November 10, 2011 from []

Bryan's Summary

I chose to use Edmodo for my version of McLuhan's tetrad. It enhances communication among teachers, students and parents. It obsoletes e-mail or handwritten communication. It rekindles the idea of the parent-teacher conference by offering an ever-present mode of communication. Finally, it reverses the separation between home and the classroom. Though Edmodo has many possibilities to enhance and tranform the educational setting, perhaps its greates attribute is that it is free. In a day where money seems to lead all decision-making, this resource gives schools an excellent resource for using technology to change the way that school is done. Edmodo also has mobile apps which make it highly appealing to students. Top of Page

David Broom The emergent technology that I will describe using the tetrad is called Prezi. Prezi is a graphical presentation software that allows users to present information in a very unique way. Prezi enhances the learning experience for students in a classroom because it gives them a very unique way to present information for a project. It is different from PowerPoint because it allows the viewer or presenter to zoom in and out to focus on different information during the presentation. A technology tool that has not become obsolete yet but will become obsolete because of tools such as Prezi is PowerPoint. The purpose of Prezi is to present information either for a presentation of a project. This technology tool brings to mind the use of poster boards. Prezi has the potential to truly unlock a student’s creativity and help them present information in a unique way. Prezi can take any normal project to the next level and let students create a presentation that helps their audience truly grasp the meaning. If a school or classroom would integrate Prezi as a presentation tool, students will learn more and will learn more about different topics.

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Sara Cutbirth For this assignment I choose to examine the Interactive Whiteboard. Here is what I found... Enhances The Interactive Whiteboards (SmartBoards and Prometheans) allow students to interact with learning in new ways. They can access the Internet instantly and can see immediate examples of what they are learning about. Obsoletes The Interactive Whiteboards obsolete any former technology that provided students with ways to see examples of their learning. I have seen it take the place of overhead projectors and filmstrip projectors. Retrieves This emerging technology retrieves ways to involve students in their learning. It provides students with a tool to take notes and see examples. This reminds me of overhead projectors and the chalkboard. Reverses I believe that this technology can eventually be replaces by iPads or other tablets. Mostly the teacher uses interactive Whiteboards, but I think they work similarly to iPads and this would put learning into the students’ hands. The use of Interactive Whiteboards has greatly increased student engagement and motivation in their learning. It has made learning more spontaneous, too. It is hard to image how I ever survived without one!

Katie Hurin: SmartBoard Enhances The one area that Smartboard technology addresses in the classroom is that teachers are given the capacities of the computer to present to students. Teachers are given the opportunity to access computer applications, the internet, and other media for their students. Unlike former technologies, SmartBoards give teachers the opportunity to stay connected with their students while engaging these applications. Obsoletes SmatBoards replace numerous former technologies. Prior to this technology, teachers would have to rely on overhead projectors to display information. However, this required that transparencies were created and prepared for display. Additionally, SmartBoards work in conjunction with prior technology, computers, which are the medium in which SmartBoards utilize to get the information out. Retrieves SmartBoards are a way of making computers meaningful and impactful for the classroom. With all the information available through the computer and internet, SmartBoards offer a way of making this accessible to students. In that way, students are able to reap the benefits of this technology. Reverses When I am thinking of what might replace SmartBoards is a technology that can take the teacher away from the board while still being able to project the information for the students. I feel that this capacity to move beyond the board and be free to roam the classroom would offer the teacher even more possibilities for active engagement with the students. With that in mind, I believe that the iPad might be the technology to replace the Smartboard. According to iPads in Eduacatino, iPads could replace SmartBoards because they offer teachers the opportunity to have the same experience without the expense of SmartBaords.