Speaking Up About Technology Language

Ray V. Spain, Ed.D.,
superintendent,
Warren County Schools
Warrenton, N.C.

What are your favorite new technology words?

Google. It is my preferred home page on Firefox and when I need information I "google" to search for the information.

What is your favorite new form of technology communication and why?

Blogs. Blogs allows anyone and everyone to publish their opinions on any topic.

In a text message or instant message do you use shorthand or full sentences? Why?

I use full sentences. I'm just old fashioned, I suppose. Really, most of my IMs or texting is with family members and we tend to still use full sentences.

What affect do you think the new types of communication -- texting, IM -- will have on the world of work?

I believe texting and IM will accelerate the speed in which we communicate. It may also raise the expectation that responses to messages should be immediate since the communication is more "real time."

What new projects are you working on that use technology in education?

We are working on: high school reform, we have a major emphasis in using technology; plans for one-to-one laptop programs for our Early College High School; establishing dedicated computer labs for online and virtual courses; seeking funding for digital classrooms district-wide; and expanding computer access through open source and thin client computing.

Lenny Shad
Deputy Superintendent of Information and Technology Services
Katy Independent School District
Katy, Texas

What are your favorite new technology words?

One is defining our students as Digital Natives and parents as Digital Immigrants. Another is "social shaping" or the way technology has changed group networking and dynamics not only for our kids but for organizations. Last is "cloud applications." We are seeing more and more applications traditionally installed on PCs moving to the Internet "cloud."

What is your favorite new form of technology communication and why?

This is not really new technology but it is a new form of communication for our organization: podcasting. It is a great communication tool that can reach the masses and can be obtained from a number of sources. Podcasting has great impact on emergency notification, elections (both bond and school board), general information from school districts, campuses, superintendents and principals.

In a text message or instant message do you use shorthand or full sentences? Why?

I fought this battle long and hard but have finally surrendered! I used shorthand once I understood what it meant. It saves time and gets the same message across as spelling everything out. Most importantly, I got tired of my wife and kids making fun of me!

What affect do you think the new types of communication -- texting, IM -- will have on the world of work?

It makes everything real time. In the past if you were in a meeting and did not know an answer to a question you would have to "get back with them on that one". Today you text or IM the appropriate person and you get an answer instantaneously. In the world of work it can streamline the communication process.

What new projects are you working on that use technology in education?

Virtualization, we are exploring the concept of virtual schools. Also classroom blogging forums and smartboards in the classroom as a replacement to traditional projection devices. We are incorporating technology devices most students have with them all the time -- iPods and cell phones -- into the curriculum.

Robert R. Bradley
Director of Technology Integration
Communication and Information Technologies
Tennessee State University
Nashville, Tenn.

What are your favorite new technology words?

All words are technology. In fact, language is the original technology. It makes all others possible. 'Meme' is my favorite noun: it converges the spiritual and artistic with the intellectual. You can Google it. My favorite verb is any form of the verb 'to be.' Using that verb efficaciously is the highest technology of all.

What is your favorite new form of technology communication and why?

Very difficult to call. I guess I'd have to say my favorite new form of technology is the human mind used with intention and based and aligned with principles of convergence. Toggling from a perspective of lack to a perspective of abundance has powerful impact on local and global outcomes.

In a text message or instant message do you use shorthand or full sentences? Why?

I don't text. Enough is enough. I'll be an immigrant outlier and observe the transition to the next form: subliminal communication. According to some sages, that's already being piloted.

What affect do you think the new types of communication -- texting, IM -- will have on the world of work?

They are merely more empirical evidence of how amazing we humans are: we will stay connected. It will all factor around any tool or act that can scale the degree of intimacy. It's important to keep that in the foreground of any consideration about the future: the task now is to assume no separation and craft one's own space within that awareness.

What new projects are you working on that use technology in education?

The New Sandbox project with the Digital Media Consortium. Factoring in our global challenges, it appears that an innovative approach to education would be to engage technology with outreach and academics. "One-to-one" equals each-one-teach-one. Enhancing this kind of learning with project-based design will scale an NCAA of competitive scholarship. If we can grow championship athletes, we can grow championship scholars.

Andrea Cucchiara
Sr. Marketing Specialist
Cognos, an IBM company

What are your favorite new technology words?

Who needs words when you have emoticons!

What is your favorite new form of technology communication and why?

Mobile and hands-free devices such as GPS and Bluetooth. I can drive to the office, have both hands on the steering wheel, and attend a meeting.

In a text message or instant message do you use shorthand or full sentences?

I almost always use shorthand when texting or instant messaging. The whole idea of the instant message is to get the message into the recipient's hands as soon and as quickly as possible. The shorter and quicker it is for the recipient to read the message, the faster the response, hopefully.

What affect do you think the new types of communication -- texting, IM -- will have on the world of work?

We are living in a word of multitasking. Quick and more direct forms of communication, such as texting and IM, allow more time for other work projects. It is especially handy while in meetings or on the phone.

What new projects are you working on that use technology in education?

I am currently working on a virtual education conference. If you have not been involved in a virtual event before, it's similar to a live trade show via the Web. They are informative, interactive and fun.

Yvette J. Correa
Student, 16
Angelo Rodriguez High School
Cordelia, Calif.

What are your favorite new technology words?

My favorite new technology words are Google, iPod and iTunes because I use them on a regular basis and everyone I socialize with knows what they are.

What is your favorite new form of technology communication?

My favorite new forms of technology communication are MySpace, IM and Facebook because they all make staying in touch with friends and family extremely easy and fun.

In a text message or instant message do you use shorthand or full sentences? Why?

I use shorthand. It is much faster and easier to communicate in shorthand. I have even texted an entire essay, e-mailed it to myself, and copied and pasted it to a Word document. I text much faster than I type.

What affect do you think the new types of communication -- texting, IM -- will have on the world of work?

I think the new types of communication will allow businesses to deliver faster results, communicate faster, and receive results faster.

What new projects are you working on that use technology in education?

In my biotechnology class we are using Mac laptops in order to create video PowerPoint presentations involving biology. My teacher makes sure we are not only learning the basics of biology, but we are also learning how to use technology, specifically PowerPoint, in order to prepare us for college.

*This story is from Converge magazine's Spring 2008 issue.