The document discusses emerging technologies that are likely to impact education within the next 1-5 years according to the Horizon Report 2011. Key trends include increased access to resources and relationships online, more flexible and collaborative work. Technologies highlighted are electronic books, mobile devices, augmented reality, game-based learning, and gesture-based computing. Challenges include developing digital literacy skills and appropriate evaluation metrics for new forms of online content and competition from proprietary colleges. The future of learning is predicted to involve more personalized, informal and collaborative learning through networked communities.

1. Distance EducationThe Foreseeable FutureExcerpts taken from:Horizon Report 2011

2. What is the Horizon Report 2011?A comprehensive research venture examines emerging technologies for their impact on teaching, learning and creative inquiry. Each edition introduces six emerging technologies or practices likely to enter mainstream adoption within the next one to five years.

3. Key TrendsAbundance of resources and relationships made easily accessible via the Internet and mobile devices (What impact does this have on the role of teaching and learning and instruction?)Flexibility in the workplace and lifestylePeople expect to work, learn, and study whenever and wherever they want - instant access (increase in wireless)World of work increasingly collaborativerethinking how we structure student and organizational projects – (mobile workers)Technologies increasingly “cloud based” (data and services moved to the cloud)

4. Key Challenges and ConstraintsPervasive sense individual organizational constraints are likely the most important factor in any decision to adopt or not adopt any given new technologyArbitrary rules Federal lawsOrganizational culture (Saba, 2005) *Digital media literacy (most common to higher education and highest ranked)a critical skill in every discipline and profession (skills not yet well defined)

5. Key Challenges and Constraints, cont.Appropriate metrics behind scholarly forms of authoring, publishing and authoring (difficult to evaluate blogs, e-books, multimedia pieces)Unprecedented competition from proprietary colleges (How do you provide high-quality services while controlling costs?)Keeping pace with the rapid proliferation of information, software tools, devicesOverwhelmingGreater need for finding, interpreting, organizing and retrieving data

6. What’s coming on the horizon?Technologies to Watch12 months Electronic books Electronic books beyond the Kindle now are multifunctional Support for social interaction Integration of multimedia and collaborative elementshttp://vimeo.com/15142335

7. What’s coming on the Horizon? Technologies to Watch12 months MobilesIncreasing in popularity as a primary means of accessing Internet resources. Twitter, Poll Anywhere

8. Two-Three Years AdoptionAugmented RealityLayering of information over 3D spaceConcept of “blending information” QR codes- blends visual (markers-camera) and information Augmented reality field workhttp://gameslab.radford.edu/ROAR/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKw_Mp5YkaE

9. Augmented Reality

10. Two-Three Years Adoption, cont.Game-based LearningSupports 21st century skills required for students: collaboration, problem-solving and communicationAllow for experimentation, new discoveries and even failure http://www.molleindustria.org/freeculturegame-engEducational games grouped into 3 categories:Not digitalAre digital, but not collaborativeCollaborative digital games

11. Two-Three Years Adoption, cont.Gesture-based ComputingFull impact remains several years awayNew generation of students accustomed to touching, tapping, wiping, jumping, and moving as a means to engage with information (Wii, iPad, iPhone) Learning Analytics

12. Improve understandings of teaching and learning

13. Tailor instruction to individual students more effectivelyLearning Analytics Resources

14. What will we see in the future of learning and teaching?Personal learning environments Increasing emphasis on what is called informal learning Networked Communities versus groupsCollaboration to produce a common goal or outcomeUnstructured learning and discussion Leaderless groups Age of competencies Learning opportunities embedded in other activities Individually tailored learning management systems

15. Open Campus Horizon12 months