ZDNET’s Top 10 Ed Tech Predictions for 2011

The report that I chose to review was Top 10 Ed Tech Predictions for 2011. In the report Christopher Dawson, former teacher and writer for ZDNET and Adam Garry, Dell’s manager of global professional learning, present 10 Educational technology trends/predictions for 2011. The report is well laid out with headings and brief summaries of each of the trends as well as comments from readers of the report.

Two major themes that run through this report is the trend towards Personal learning environments and the importance of developing platforms, (wifi enabled schools, virtual classrooms, byod, thin computing, cloud based tools such as google apps) to extend student access to these spaces both in school and at home. These innovative initiatives will change how and when content is delivered to students in k – 12 schools and offer opportunities to venturers interested in developing and extending these platforms.

This report gives educators and learning technology specialists a glimpse into the future trends educational technology may follow. The authors suggest that tablets are here to stay, iPads versus kindles, students as creators of content instead of consumers of content, product based assessments and access to e textbooks will change the face of schools.  The content of this report would be a useful read for educators, both at school level and district level. With the scarcity of educational dollars educators and learning technology specialists are faced with the dilemma of where the money will be spent. The plethora of technologies available and the rapid rate at which technology is evolving makes it difficult for decision makers to choose where to spend their technology dollars.

I think it is important to keep in mind that reports such as, Top 10 Ed Tech Predictions for 2011, is a glimpse into the future and that trends change quickly depending on the market place. However reading reports such as this one does give a framework/ direction for where technology is heading and an opportunity to shape technology plans at the school level. It is important to keep abreast of these trends and I would recommend it to other stakeholders and decision makers to help inform not necessarily drive technology plans and purchases.

References:

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/education/top-10-ed-tech-predictions-for-2011/4382

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