Module Four Blog Post

Second Life as a Disruptive Technology

Dr. Thornburg describes a disruptive technology as a “new technology with the same functionality of an existing technology, but it functions more efficiently, and then obsoletes that technology” (Laureate Education, Inc., 2009).  The distinguishing feature of a disruptive technology as opposed to an evolutionary technology is the complete direction change that said technology causes.  Second Life has the potential to be a disruptive technology in education and abroad.  Traditional educational environments are curriculum biased and teacher centered in that the student has minimal input in the development of said course.  An educational class developed through Second Life has the ability to be personalized on a learner to learner basis.

            A major social benefit of Second Life in an educational environment would be the capacity to get each individual involved in daily activities.  Every teacher has or will have a class containing students that are introverted and prefer to internalize as opposed to actively participating in a traditional environment.  Second Life will/could provide the opportunity for students who resist public participation to participate in their learning though an avatar.  In that way I believe Second Life could (but certainly has not on a large scale to date) completely change the direction of a traditional classroom environment.  I am not sure Second Life will ever see its full potential as a disruptive technology in education.  One of the main drawbacks to second life in the classroom is compliance with CIPA.  Public schools not in compliance are apt to lose federal funding; therefore many web based chances are not taken by technology departments.

            I would predict that Second Life / virtual worlds will continue in an evolutionary pattern for the next 10 + years.  Virtual worlds will expand and will evolve before being displaced by a new technology.

Reference

Laureate Education, Inc. (2009). Emerging and future technology. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Nuthall, K. (2008) US: A disruptive technology arrives. Retrieved from http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20080117162121373