Assignment 2: Comparative Study of Emerging Technologies
Refer to both the Overall Concept and your responses from Assignment 1 in order to complete this
assignment.
- Write a five (5) pages paper in which you:
Debate the overall merits of the selected emerging technology over the three (3) others that you had
previously identified from Assignment 1. - Compare and contrast the emerging technology that you chose with the three (3) other emerging
technologies that you did not choose. Your comparison should address the following:
a. Three (3) methods in which the attributes and features of each address the needs and or challenges
inherent in the educational setting or related to the scenario you selected in Assignment 1.
b. Significant ways in which each technology supports meaningful learning.�
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c. Three (3) attributes and / or features inherent in each emerging technology that instructors may use to
address select characteristics of the 21st Century student population that you had previously identified.
d. Three (3) aspects of your selected technology that best address two (2) of the NETS-S standards for
using technology to guide learning.�
- Provide at least five (5) sources that document detailed information about this emerging technology.
The sources must be within the last five (5) years. - Format your assignment according to the following formatting requirements:
a. Typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides.
b. Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name,
the course title, and the date. The cover page is not included in the required page length. - Include a reference page. Citations and references must follow APA format. The reference page is not
included in the required page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
. Review current research related to emerging technologies for instruction and learning.
. Analyze the effects of technology in different instructional settings.
. Analyze the characteristics of 21st Century learners to aid in determining effective ways of using
technologies for teaching and learning.
. Use technology and information resources to research issues in designing, developing, and evaluating
educational technologies.
. Write clearly and concisely about issues in designing, developing, and evaluating educational
technologies.
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Word count: 1418
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In the 21 st century, innovations and new trends in the learning industry credit the fact that
technology is given and not debatable. Past literature on research done by experts from different
parts of the world illustrates how numerous technologies have been applied to better the learning
system. With the increase in distance learning and exchange programs, many institutions in the
world are turning to the modern ways of teaching which tend to be efficient as well as cheaper
compared to the traditional way. Gone is the day when every student was expected to sit in a
class-like structure to acquire knowledge (Dicheva et al., 2015, p.75).
Advancement in technology has created an opportunity to access information through cloud
computing, mobile learning, social learning networks, flipped classrooms, games, and
gamification as well as electronic publishing. These emerging technologies aimed at making the
learning process more flexible and enjoyable to facilitate students achieve their end goal.
One of the primary merits associated with every learning technology is the ease of
communication or rather movement of information from the tutor to the students’ community.
There has been a great challenge in this industry regarding how teachers relate to students to
ensure that everyone is up to date. Most of the emerging systems are internet-based hence
creating a chance for a bigger portion of the students to get connected in one way or the other
(Johnson et al., 2013).
A perfect example is that of cloud computing where learners may access assignments and
reading materials from the Dropbox and the google drive. The tutor does not need to reach each
student at a time or share learning materials individually. In addition to that, social learning
networks and electronic publishing also allow different people throughout the world to share
similar information despite their location and time.
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Besides the effectiveness in reaching out a large number of scholars, the new technological
strategies have improved educational standards and its quality. The depth of content in different
fields gathered by students through the technologies is preferable. For instance, in the field of
sciences, a lot and helpful facts are learned through the internet which is merely taught in class.
Online discussions have acted as the major contributors towards sharing of different ideas
pertaining a particular course or topic.
Learning has turned to be easy through timely consultancy from reliable sources via the
networks. Students within the K-12 system, as well as those undertaking higher education course
in universities and tertiary colleges, can testify the credibility of information they gather from
online boards and tutoring programs (Johnson et al., 2013). For example, scholars in the line of
accountancy enjoy learning diverse accounting methods and principles that help them work in
many countries. Indeed, the emerging technologies are boosting the quality of education hence
producing well-knowledgeable graduates who have the capability of driving the nation to another
level of advancement.
The K-12 system scenario as applied in assignment 1 task is termed as one of the beneficiaries of
emerging technologies in education. Right from the kindergarten and throughout the 12 grades,
pupils are engaged in extensive research with the help of online platforms and eBooks. The need
to teach children using visual images and demonstrations has been made possible by the use of
Google drives where images can be uploaded as well as gaming applications used in class by
teachers to case show their concept.
The target secrets behind the innovation of all the learning technologies are to alter the
understanding capabilities of students. Children in the K-21 system are likely not to have
discovered their strengths in the education sector (Kirkwood and Price, 2013). As a result, they
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have a lot to grasp as they figure out what they understand best. Learning technologies make
their educational journey easier and entertaining to help them become what they wish in life (p.
536).
To sum up, on the overall merits of emerging technologies, the old system of pens and papers is
gradually eliminated by new applications and gadgets that can perform the tasks better. Students
were used to carrying a lot of luggage in the form of books and store their knowledge in writings
which are riskier to lose. With the newly emerging trends, tablets, mobile phones, and laptops
have substituted the tradition of books helping the students to carry all they need in one gadget.
Teachers have also had an easy time in receiving, grading and posting of assignment results to
assess students’ understanding (Anderson, 2016).
Common pools created in the social networks and applications such as students’ portals and
discussion boards are being used to present assignments by students and wait for feedbacks via
the same system. Therefore, the whole process of learning is faster and efficient when the
technologies mentioned above are utilized properly (Kirkwood and Price, 2013, p.540).
Putting into comparison the three discussed technologies in the first assignment with others that
are well-known to exist, differences in cost and reliability are the primary factors to consider
during implementation. They have different features that help them fit the category of the K-12
scenario. To begin with, social networks, mobile learning, and cloud computing are familiar to
many people globally. Children are brought up knowing how to use a mobile phone and related
applications in it. Therefore, it becomes easy for tutors in the 12 grades system to teach using
search gadgets (Morris, 2013, p.251).
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A similar case happens with google drive and Dropbox in cloud computing. Communication via
email came to replace text messaging in a bigger way. Learning institutions adapted electronic
mails as a form of communication since it is easy to use and reach many people at the same time.
Contrary to that, emerging technologies like flipped classrooms, gaming, and electronic
publishing are challenging to apply in a K-12 setup (Anderson, 2016).
Students at that level may not have the capability to use them effectively. Their features
regarding size and usability are much complicated compared to that of social networks. That
leads to many schools using the K-12 systems to choose technologies that are convenient to both
the students and teachers.
On the other hand, affordability of technological equipment may act as a barrier to the choice of
learning technologies applicable to the institutions. People fall under different economic classes
in the society. Hence, gaps are created between students’ capacities to use this technology.
Mobile phones and laptops are cheaply affordable raising the probability of many students
accessing social networks. These technologies appear not to be biased as many students may also
access information through school library computers or even the cyber (Kirkwood and Price,
2013, p.542).
Other emerging technologies from another perspective have a legacy of strong capital
consumption during implementation. For instance, the building of flipped classrooms,
purchasing video games players for each student as well as constructing robot-based laboratories
might turn to be expensive. The cost of maintaining the technologies is also high with a bigger
probability of permanent damaging compared to the social learning networks gadgets (Morris,
2013, p.252). Therefore, countries such as Canada, India and the United States of America that
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use the K-12 educational system find it favorable to use social learning networks related
technologies to incorporate both local and international students studying abroad.
The technology in education systems has impacted the number of people who access knowledge
globally. That includes even within developing countries that still lag behind when it comes to
technology advancement. Students gain new skills and improve on the techniques of tackling
problems diplomatically hence molding a better world. Learning technologies in the current
generation are eventually outdoing the old systems (Anderson, 2016).
Development is done on the existing as new technologies emerge. Soon enough, learning shall
not be all about gathering into a class and have a teacher provide instructions. Online postings
and video conferencing shall dominate in learning institutions causing a change in the way
people acquire knowledge. Massive contributions of diverse ideas on discussion platforms
eradicate limitation of facts gained by scholars to support their arguments.
Conclusion
In conclusion, technology opens up a chance to learn more and get to be corrected where
necessary. Emerging technologies in education will not only affect the quality of education but
also contribute towards making the world a global community. People from different parts of the
world can be connected through social learning networks and access similar learning materials.
Ultimately, applying technology in studies is a gospel worth to spread from one organization to
the other. However, institutions have an obligation to set up policies that guide how the emerging
technologies are used to avoid educational irregularities.
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References
Anderson, T. (2016). Theories of learning with emerging technologies. Emerging technologies in
distance education.
Dicheva, D., Dichev, C., Agre, G., & Angelova, G. (2015). Gamification in education: a systematic
mapping study. Journal of Educational Technology & Society, 18(3), 75.
Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Estrada, V., Freeman, A., & Ludgate, H. (2013).
Technology outlook for the community, technical, and junior colleges 2013-2018: An NMC
Horizon project sector analysis. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. Cover photo by Tom
Haymes, Houston Community College ISBN, 978-0.
Kirkwood, A., & Price, L. (2013). Examining some assumptions and limitations of research on the
effects of emerging technologies for teaching and learning in higher education. British Journal of
Educational Technology, 44(4), 536-543.
Morris, L. V. (2013). MOOCs, emerging technologies, and quality. Innovative Higher
Education, 38(4), 251-252.
