Digital Revolution: The Second Wave

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Digital Revolution The Second Wave by Elizabeth
Hanson-Smith Computers for Learning

• The 1st wave brought computers and the Internet

• The 2nd promises to make watching t.v. as fun as
• the Internet, but faster

• This article explains new developments and
• implications for teachers

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• Web T.V. is a stripped-down Net PC which may be
• accessed through a t.v. set and local cable or
  phone
• lines, costing about 500

• The technology is digital audio and video
  production

• The computer receives information in a continuous
  stream

• You can view full-motion, full-screen video or
  watch a
• live concert as if you were there

• Real computers will also use Web T.V.

• For teachers, two-way video conferencing is the
  most
• useful feature

• One problem that must be overcome is access, if
• everyone gets on the system at once

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• The other news is a new version of a CD-ROM,
  called
• a DVD (Digital Versatile Disk)

• Its two-sided, holds 7 times the data of
  CD-ROMs, and
• will be backwards compatible with them

• Initial cost for a player will be 500 to 800

• DVD will replace the hard drive and Zip drive

• For language classes, the benefits include-
• 1. Instant access to any part of the contents
• 2. Eventual ability to erase/record
• 3. Instantly editable recordings of student
  teachers

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• There is a current cognitive push in language
  learning
• e.g. process writing, and email as authentic
  writing

• DRII will probably renew interest in the pedagogy
  of
• oral language

• It may revive Krashen, or lead to whole new
• schools of theory