My understanding of definition of disruptive technologies is this, it is a new technology that comes about and shakes things up. It is usually something different and sort of off the projected path. It is also something that is accessible and quickly adopted, at least by individual consumers.
Second Life has the potential to be a disruptive technology because it is shaking things up. It makes others stop and rethink how to socialize, entrepreneurlize, and profitize (do not invoke the spirit of Webster, these are not real words) in an alternate reality. It has been easily adopted by early adopters of technology and has the potential to climb the curve because it is an open source technology,
Second Life is replacing chat rooms and is reminiscent of party lines ("call 1-550-1550 to be a party animal that’s all you got to know, Talkabout"). It has the potential to displace conference room, training facilities, classrooms, museums, storefronts, coffeehouses, etc, etc, etc. As an educator for an online school, I welcome the virtual classroom! Live instruction, global presence, simulations, opportunity to differentiate instruction for individual students, minimal inappropriate classroom disruptions, attend professional conferences without the cost of traveling abroad, and the list of teacher wants goes on and on.
These virtual worlds are going to be the most common way as human beings we use the electronics of the Internet to be together, to consume information.
As a social person who prefers to stay home than navigate crowds of unfamiliar people in unfamiliar places, Second Life allows me to come and go as I please. I can attend parties, hit a coffee shop, drop in on a live show, take in a lecture, and go for a long walk (or flight) without leaving the comfort of my own home.
As an educator for an online school with teachers that span the great (at least size wise) state of Arizona, Second Life can bring us close together without travel, lodging, child/adult/pet care related issues that are associated with in person trainings. Second Life would make collaborating easier and would also help those who need that one-on-one/face-to-face interaction, get some of those needs met when the real reality won’t allow for it.
The potential has not yet been fully realized and a replacement may emerge but it will reach beyond where Second Life has take us thus far, to the place some of us expect virtual worlds will go; a world within our computers.
Additional information:
School and Second Life on edutopia.org
Second Life and student exchange on edutopia.org
Collaboration and Second Life on gigaom.com
8 comments:
Hello Dolly,
You have an excellent blog post. Second Life adds many different ways to collaborate. I found it interesting to see the technologies that Second Life is replacing such as chat rooms and party line. The educational benefits with Second Life seem to come as a good time when learning is shifting to learner-centric learning. The virtual classroom allows the ability for different scenarios and a larger presence. I did not think of classroom disruptions, but that is a good point. I agree that the full potential of Second Life has not been visualized, but the increase usage may cause the technology to explode similar to Internet growth from the 90s. You listed several ways you could use Second Life in your online school. Since both are emerging technologies and methods, how do you view Second Life integrating with mobile learning?
v/r
Sullus
I would think that Second Life would need to be more mobile in order to really become adopted. What I didn't look into is whether or not that is in the makes; I just know it would take a lot of development to do so because the program is so large that I sometimes have difficulty running it.
Dolly,
Are you a user of Second Life? If you are a user, how long and how were you introduced to Second Life? I agree with you that the mobility of Second Life would help in its adoption because we have taken technology by the hand and across many borders, literally. I have not heard of Second Life before Walden, and when I was first introduced, it reminded me of Sims. I have gone as far as downloading it on my computer, but during my research, I came across so much negativity which seems to be intimidating. Fear has not stopped me before, but getting involved with a tool that has the potential to take more time from my family and friends is a little more than intimidating.
~Wanda
I agree Second Life will enhance our future but I hope it does not replace the existing world that we know. I have seen presentations on Second Life and how it can enhance education and the possibilities are limitless. It will be an exciting future with this technology in it.
betmatik
kralbet
betpark
tipobet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
poker siteleri
bonus veren siteler
mobil ödeme bahis
LA5
betpark
tipobet
betmatik
mobil ödeme bahis
poker siteleri
kralbet
slot siteleri
kibris bahis siteleri
bonus veren siteler
6BAH
شركة تنظيف مجالس بالدمام mNai2f6d03
شركة تسليك مجاري بالاحساء SBFYttBYyb
Post a Comment