Hey guys,
This thread was inspired by my implementation paper where I examined the use of Kahoot! at Drexel University. In one of the sections, I mentioned that instructors can acquire digital Kahoot! badges upon completion of their training and virtual workshops. My creation was made using Accredible and it illustrates what their digital Kahoot! badge could possibly look like.
Part 2: Reaction to video: https://youtu.be/TPbKyD2bAR4
Prompt- After watching this video:
What conclusions do you draw?
What are the implications of his information with regards to education and training?
Where do you think this will take education and training in the future?
Now, think about the technology you experimented with during this module.
How is it emerging?
Where does it fit into the information from the video?
My thoughts:
I found the video to be very insightful. After viewing it, I have concluded that connections between technologies and the human experience will soon become inevitable. This notion evoked Siemens and Downes (2005) learning perspective- connectivism. Their theory postulated for the digital age highlights the significance of relationships and connections between fields, systems, and nodes. Essentially, trending and emerging technologies will have some form of link, connection, and relationship with each other just like human beings have social ties, connections, and relationships.
In light of this, it is essential for DE professionals to always broaden their perspective on learning technologies and look at how they are interrelated. You see, it is not just about the parts or a particular learning technology rather, but it really comes down to how all these technological parts and pieces function together and contribute to the inner workings of the whole. The information presented in the video alluded to this vantage as it touched on the connectedness of technologies and illustrated the importance of having a holistic understanding of emerging technologies and trends. Off course, one can gain a holistic understanding through training and professional development. It is therefore imperative for training programs to be dynamic, updated, refined, and reflect the latest interrelated trends and new technologies in Distance Education.
Block Chain and Micro-credentialing
The use of micro-credentialing has been proliferating in the education landscape. Its astronomical growth can be seen in university settings, massive open online courses (MOOCs), and other nonacademic areas. According to EDUCAUSE (2021), “currently, more than 700,000 microcredentials are on offer from a range of sources” (p. 22). Digital badging is a classic exemplar of micro-credentialing and Accredible is indeed an incredible source for free, personalized badges. This awesome badge design tool allows users to create, download, and freely use badges to recognize various achievements. It has been an emerging tool since its inception and continues to be a leading digital credentialing platform in the educational industry.
Finally, connections can be made between Acredible and the blockchain information discussed in the video. Precisely, a panelist of a recent virtual roundtable shared that “Blockchain becomes highly relevant to institutions of higher education when it's discussed around the topics of credentialing and badging. In essence, Blockchain could become the technology that enables learners to maintain lifelong, cloud-based learner profiles. Such profiles could constantly amass credentials and badges from all kinds of institutions and programs (whether brick-and-mortar or digital/virtual/online)” (p. 4). Essentially, a form of linkage exists between these two-emerging technologies.
What are your thoughts on the interrelations between these trends and other emerging technologies? Let’s continue the discourse below!
Krista
MDE student
University of Maryland Global Campus
University of Maryland Global Campus | UMGC
References
Educause (2021). NMC Horizon Report - Teaching and Learning Edition. Educause. https://library.educause.edu/resources/2021/4/2021-educause-horizon-report-teaching-and-learning-edition
Kelly, R. (2017). 11 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2017. Campus Technology. campustechnology.com https://campustechnology.com/articles/2017/01/18/11-ed-tech-trends-to-watch-in-2017.aspx
Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1). Retrieved from https://jotamac.typepad.com/jotamacs_weblog/files/Connectivism.pdf