This webpage gives students information on emerging technologies, and how those technologies will shape the future of education.

Emerging Technologies

Instant Messaging (IM) / Text Messaging (SMS):

These programs allow you to chat in real-time with friends. Some allow you to chat in groups, share pictures, use talk or video, or text via cell phones. Aggregator programs allow users to sign into multiple services at the same time.

• Services
  • Skype (Dr. Schmertzing's favorite)
  • AIM
  • YM
  • MSN Messenger
  • Jabber
  • Google Talk
• Aggregators
  • Meebo
  • Pidgin
  • Trillian

Social Network Sites:

These websites allow users to join groups, share photos, converse on message boards, and build profiles that express their personalities.  Some are mostly social (Facebook, MySpace, Tribe, Friendster), while others are professional (LinkedIn) or user-defined (Ning).

• Social Networking in Plain English
• Social Network Sites: Definition, History, and Scholarship
• Facebook
• MySpace
• LinkedIn
• Ning - Education in Ning
• Tribe.net
• Friendster

Blogs:

Short for web logs, blogs are online journals that are kept by individuals, institutions, and groups.

• Blogs in Plain English
• Top 100 Education Blogs
• Edublogs
• Lifehacker
• Technorati (blog directory and ranking service)

Microblogs:

Designed to be updated via SMS (mobile phone text message), microblogs are status updates in 140 characters or less.

• Twitter in Plain English
• Twitter
• Cliff asks the Twitterverse which emerging technology future educational policymakers (i.e. YOU) should know about.
• FriendFeed (microblog and social feed aggregator)
• Plurk
• Loopt (microblogging combined with GPS)

Feeds:

Feeds allow users to find out about the latest stories/updates at a particular website or blog without having to go to the website.

• RSS in Plain English
• Google Reader
• Bloglines
• FeedReader

Photo & Video Sharing:

Websites allow you to upload photos and/or video to their web site, and then share those photos/video.

• Online Photo Sharing in Plain English
• Flickr
• Picasa
• Photobucket
• YouTube
• Vimeo
• Blip.tv

Podcasting / Vidcasting:

Series of audio or video shows about a given topic.

• Podcasting in Plain English
• Podcast.com
• Education Podcast Network
• Podcast Directory - Education

Wikis:

A subset of web pages that anyone can edit. Some are open to the public (such as Wikipedia), and some are open only to authorized contributors

• Wikis in Plain English
• WetPaint
• PBWorks
• Examples of Educational Wikis

Content Management Systems/Learning Management Systems:

These programs are designed to help create and manage websites.  Some are designed for general websites (Content Management Systems), while others are designs specifically for educational courses online (Learning Management Systems) .

• Content Management Systems
  • Drupal
  • Joomla
  • Contribute (what VSU uses for its website)
• Learning Management Systems
  • Moodle
  • Sakai
  • Blackboard (including Vista, which VSU uses for online classes)

Citation / Bookmark Management:

Lists of web bookmarks, that you can organize and share

• Social Bookmarking in Plain English
• del.icio.us
• Zotero
• CiteULike

The Future of Technology & Education

• Ken Robinson: How Schools are Killing Creativity
• LEARN:  Literacy, technology, language, biology, culture, libraries, education, sociology, and ethics all converge in this fast-paced exploration of the changing face of learning.  See how new technologies, studies, and cultural trends all point to the evolution of how (and what) humanity is learning.
• TECH:  A tour of emerging technologies that are transforming the way that we live, work, play and learn. 
• 2020 Forecast:  Creating the Future of Learning
• Google tools for Educators
• Open Source
• Creative Commons
• Free Culture

For Research:

• Education Guide
• E-Journals [A-Z Full Text Journal Title List]
• ILLiad  -  Automated system allows articles to be requested and delivered automatically usually within 1-2 business days.
• GIL Express - A Universal Catalog and state-wide lending program allows users to borrow books from other USG libraries, books can be delivered to any USG library in 2 business days and returned to any USG library

Other Skills/Resources:

• Services for Distance Education Students
• Anywhere Access (off-campus/home access to databases)
• Live Chat (chat with a VSU Librarian to get research help)
• Peer Review (guide)
• Paraphrase: Write it in your own words (guide at The OWL at Purdue)
• Evaluating Sources of Information (guide at The OWL at Purdue)

Last modified by Jeffrey Gallant, 6/5/2012