The Horizon ProjectThe Horizon Project

A Presentation by Anna TothA Presentation by Anna Toth

What is the Horizon Project?What is the Horizon Project? Founded by the New Media Consortium Founded by the New Media Consortium

(NMC).(NMC). Charts the emerging technologies for teaching, Charts the emerging technologies for teaching,

learning, and creative expression.learning, and creative expression. Publishes a Horizon Report each year.Publishes a Horizon Report each year.

Includes 6 most influential trendsIncludes 6 most influential trends Summarizes the NMC findings for the year.Summarizes the NMC findings for the year.

Who Uses the Horizon Report?Who Uses the Horizon Report? TeachersTeachers

Read Horizon Report to come up with new ideas in Read Horizon Report to come up with new ideas in the classroom.the classroom.

Can teach their students using technology that they Can teach their students using technology that they are already easily using and have available.are already easily using and have available.

Can communicate new findings with other teachers Can communicate new findings with other teachers to find the best ways to help students enjoy to find the best ways to help students enjoy learning.learning.

Who Else?Who Else? BusinessesBusinesses

Businesses can see what technology is emerging Businesses can see what technology is emerging for young adults, then market their products using for young adults, then market their products using this technology.this technology.

Technology is becoming a large part in younger Technology is becoming a large part in younger people’s lives, and businesses are learning that people’s lives, and businesses are learning that quickly.quickly.

What Are the Six Areas of 2007?What Are the Six Areas of 2007? User-created ContentUser-created Content Social NetworkingSocial Networking Mobile PhonesMobile Phones Virtual WorldsVirtual Worlds New Scholarship and Emerging Forms of New Scholarship and Emerging Forms of

PublicationPublication Massively Multiplayer Educational GamingMassively Multiplayer Educational Gaming

User-created ContentUser-created Content One year or less until adopted.One year or less until adopted. Sites like Flickr, YouTube, and Odeo are allowing users to Sites like Flickr, YouTube, and Odeo are allowing users to

post their own creations.post their own creations. Users can also classify, evaluate, and add to the already posted Users can also classify, evaluate, and add to the already posted

content.content. Many of these sites are free.Many of these sites are free. Provide students with a low- cost, low-risk means to publish Provide students with a low- cost, low-risk means to publish

their work. Comparing their own work to that of others can their work. Comparing their own work to that of others can give students a valuable perspective on their own abilities and give students a valuable perspective on their own abilities and inspire them to try new ideas or techniques. inspire them to try new ideas or techniques.

Social NetworkingSocial Networking One year or less until adopted.One year or less until adopted. Most pervasive aspect of Web 2.0Most pervasive aspect of Web 2.0 Sites such as MySpace and Facebook connect people Sites such as MySpace and Facebook connect people

from all over the world hourly or daily. from all over the world hourly or daily. Not yet many institutional examples of social Not yet many institutional examples of social

networking. networking. Dozens of examples are familiar to students and used by Dozens of examples are familiar to students and used by

them on a daily basis; institutional uses will emerge very them on a daily basis; institutional uses will emerge very quickly because these approaches clearly appeal to quickly because these approaches clearly appeal to students. students.

Mobile PhonesMobile Phones Two to three years until adopted.Two to three years until adopted. Many phones today come with some sort of Many phones today come with some sort of

multimedia, if not many forms.multimedia, if not many forms. Can access web pages directly from phones, and Can access web pages directly from phones, and

many systems can format the pages to fit on the many systems can format the pages to fit on the phone screen.phone screen.

Students can create mini-documentaries easily and Students can create mini-documentaries easily and cheaply with their phones; online tutorials for phone-cheaply with their phones; online tutorials for phone-based moviemaking offer tips and techniques. based moviemaking offer tips and techniques.

Almost everyone owns one, which makes it easy for Almost everyone owns one, which makes it easy for teachers and students to communicate.teachers and students to communicate.

Virtual WorldsVirtual Worlds Two to three years until adopted. Two to three years until adopted. Second Life, Active Worlds, ThereSecond Life, Active Worlds, There Most popular virtual worlds are multi-user spaces – Most popular virtual worlds are multi-user spaces –

many people can be in the same virtual space and many people can be in the same virtual space and interact with one another in real time. interact with one another in real time.

Teachers can conduct distance learning classes in Teachers can conduct distance learning classes in Second Life and get more connected with their Second Life and get more connected with their students.students.

These virtual worlds allow users to get as creative as These virtual worlds allow users to get as creative as they want to.they want to.

New Scholarship and Emerging New Scholarship and Emerging Forms of PublicationForms of Publication

Four to five years until adopted.Four to five years until adopted. ““Scholars are beginning to employ methods Scholars are beginning to employ methods

unavailable to their counterparts of several years ago, unavailable to their counterparts of several years ago, including prepublication releases of their work, including prepublication releases of their work, distribution through nontraditional channels, dynamic distribution through nontraditional channels, dynamic visualization of data and results, and new ways to visualization of data and results, and new ways to conduct peer reviews using online collaboration. conduct peer reviews using online collaboration. These new approaches present a new challenge: to These new approaches present a new challenge: to protect the integrity of scholarly activity while taking protect the integrity of scholarly activity while taking advantage of the opportunity for increased creativity advantage of the opportunity for increased creativity and collaboration.” (NMC Website). and collaboration.” (NMC Website).

Massively Multiplayer Educational Massively Multiplayer Educational GamingGaming

Four to five years until adopted.Four to five years until adopted. Games that bring many players together in Games that bring many players together in

activities that are sometimes collaborative and activities that are sometimes collaborative and sometimes competitive, generally goal-sometimes competitive, generally goal-oriented, and often tied to a storyline or theme.oriented, and often tied to a storyline or theme.

Educational games allow students the choice Educational games allow students the choice to work in small or large groups. to work in small or large groups.

ConclusionConclusion The Horizon Project needs to continue so that The Horizon Project needs to continue so that

teachers can know the most up-to-date teachers can know the most up-to-date information on technology to use with their information on technology to use with their students.students.

As the report becomes more widespread, even As the report becomes more widespread, even parents will start to catch on which will only parents will start to catch on which will only help students with their learning even more.help students with their learning even more.