Futuring: Epic2015

The developments portrayed in epic2015 are far reaching in education presently and in the future. Technology is drastically impacting the classroom at an exponential rate and it is difficult to keep up. One development that was addressed is the inundation of information at our fingertips. As teachers, we need to instill into our students the need to be critical thinkers and discerning users of the information that is out there. With respects to podcasts and other techno-advances, the possibilities of how they can enhance education are limitless (and a little scary). They can be used as another form of assessment or a way to share information with a world-wide audience making learning more meaningful and authentic. With the use of these tools there can be greater student engagement and interest in class discussions, field research and independent projects incorporating the use of iPods. Courses can even be podcasted helping students to keep up with the material.

"I’m convinced that the real power of podcasting is twofold: It gives learners point-of-need access to information, and it disseminates information in exciting new ways. Students eagerly and actively participate in the creation of content-rich podcasts, and those who publish their podcasts publicly are quickly connected to the world community in ways never before possible."

Anderson, Larry S. “Podcasting: Transforming Middle Schoolers into ‘Middle Scholars,’” T.H.E. Journal. Dec. 1, 2005, p. 42.