Running Head: Emerging Technologies

The Emerging Technologies

Tamiyka Clark
College of Southern Nevada

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Abstract

Emerging technology is becoming more important within the education system.

I wanted to explore three different types of emerging technology. The first
technology is game based learning. I found to be important to improve the
students understanding. The second emerging technology is massive open
online courses (MOOC). MOOC has given so many people the opportunity to
take and complete courses that might have not been available. The final
emerging technology is mobile technology. Mobile technology is the most
common and influential form of technology. Through researching these
emerging technologies I tried to explore the meaning of each, the advantages,
the disadvantages and the way they have become influential within education
as well as our daily lives and how it might continue to improve our lives.

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Today, technology is constantly being integrated more and more in our

daily lives and tasks. The technology has been made to increase the
convenience of everyday activities. I believe it has done that and more! Just like
technology education is constantly changing. Education is constantly trying to
meet the needs of the ever changing student body. Now that technology has
become so essential to our lives, technology has also began to integrate inside
of the classroom. There are so many ways that technology is used to meet the
needs of students, I would like to focus on three in particular; game based
learning, massively open online courses (MOOC) and mobile technology. I
would like to explore what each one is, the importance of them, the
disadvantages and advantages of them and how the students may benefit from
each.
Video games have had a negative reputation when applied to the
development of children. Most adults believe video games are a waste of time for
the children. Games that may have violent content are believed that they
enhance criminal activity although there are no studies to prove this theory.
Children may engage in violent behavior but there is no evidence suggesting
that these acts develop enough to encourage criminal acts after a child has
played a video game. (Raise Smart kid, 2015) Parents worry about if the child is

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being challenged mentally and if the games are helping with their cognitive
development. As a child I played video games all the time. My parents did not
like when my brothers and sisters and I played for too long. After hours of
playing they were pushing us out of the house. They would make us go play
outside as if they were afraid that we would turn into plants from sitting in one
spot all day. What my parents did not realize was the video games were
constantly challenging me to use my mind to complete levels. Video games are
so engaging because we want to win! When there is an eventual outcome from
playing a game whether it is earning points or moving to the next level we are
working to accomplish a task.
Playing video games changes the brains physical structure the same way as
does learning to read, playing the piano, or navigating using a map. (Raise
Smart kid, 2015)
In the article from Smart kids they give a few examples on how video games
enhance a childs learning. There were a few points from the article that I
believe are important. Video games are a form of technology. When a child is
playing a video game they are already learning how to use technology which we
are always encouraging and trying to implement. The article also points out
that the game tells a child what to do and how to accomplish goals. The

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progression within the game depends on how well the child can follow
directions. Following directions is an important skill for students to have in
class and outside of class. The final point they made that I agreed with is video
games teach the children problem solving and logic. The video games train the
students to use the knowledge that theyve learned in lower levels to
accomplish the more difficult levels. I think this is a good skill to have because
in education we are always reintroducing material to students that they have
seen previously but just applying the information in different ways. If we can
apply the ways that video games help challenge students and incorporate it
with educational information we allow learning to become more interactive and
make learning easier and more fun. Based on an article, game based learning
is easier for the students because it isnt just information its usually in the
form of a story! Very similar to children that learn better through watching an
animated video than reading the information through a textbook. Game based
learning is even more exciting because students are not just watching the story
unfold they are participating in helping the story unfold. (Teed, 2015)
Alternative learning practices are becoming more popular among parents
and students. I wanted to focus on Massively Open Online Courses (MOOC).
MOOC is A model for delivering learning content online to any person who
wants to take a course, with no limit to attendance. (Educause, 2015)

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MOOC is an alternative way for people to get an education. It allows people no

matter where they are to take a course even if its not available near them. So
many people can interact and learn together no matter where they are located.
MOOC is a very good option for a student who does not do well with
attendance. Everything is completed online so there is no additional pressure
about coming to class. MOOC allows students to move at their own pace and
learn in their own way. MOOC is simply a digital world for learning made
possible by the use of technology. It is accessible, low cost and convenient.
(Wigmore & Rouse, 2013)
The last emerging technology I wanted speak about is mobile technology.
This is the most relatable emerging technology to me because I use my phone
for school all the time! I often use my phone to communicate with me teachers
an also my classmates. I use my phone for research on websites or by reading
an ebook. My phone alerts me when I have assignments due and lets me know
when they are due! My phone helps me stay organized with all of the classes I
have with to-do lists and calendars. On my iPhone I have a section devoted to
education. In this section I have a few apps that help me regularly with school.
My Canvas app is the most important it is the reason why I can keep up with
the assignments that I have weekly. The next would be my word count app. I
dont write full papers on my phone or anything but when I have a small

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discussion that requires a certain amount of words I am all set on my phone!

Finally I use my Quizlet app. This app was actually recommended to me by a
previous professor I had. It lets you make quizzes and take notes in a notecard
or flash card style! You can dedicate a set to a test or to the general course and
have an easy and free way to study using the familiar method of flash cards! I
dont know what I would do without my phone and I would encourage students
to use their phones for educational purposes and also just to stay organized for
school as well as with their personal life. Mobile technology is not just limited
to ones Smartphone but it also include laptops, tablets, i.e. any technology that
implies mobility. It is a great tool for everyday life but especially for students
because students can purchase books and read them on their mobile device.
Students can do research on their mobile device. More importantly students
can complete educational tasks on their mobile device.
Technology has become so influential in the way we use our day and it
keeps improving. Technology is the bases of our convenience. To take
technology and apply it to education only fits the needs of the students of
today. Game based learning, MOOC, and mobile technology will continue to
improve our education system and so will many other emerging technologies.

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Bibliography
Educause. (2015). Educause: Massive Open Online Courses. Retrieved from
Educause: http://www.educause.edu/library/massive-open-online-coursemooc
Raise Smart kid. (2015, September 20). The Positive and Negative Effects of Video
Games. Retrieved from Raise Smart Kid: raisesmartkid.com
Teed, R. (2015, May 29). Game-Based Learning. Retrieved from Starting Point
Teaching Entry Level Geoscience: serc.carleton.edu
Wigmore, I., & Rouse, M. (2013, August). Massive open Online course (MOOC).
Retrieved from Whatis.com: whatis.techtarget.com