Carl Berger, University of Michigan |
What is the next technology application that will sweep in from nowhere and revolutionize what we do in education? This was the question we hoped to answer at the Ocotillo Technology Visioning Forum, December 5 and 6, 2002. Our invited presenter, Carl Berger, is a professor of instructional technology education at the University of Michigan and Director of Advanced Academic Technologies in the Collaboratory for Advanced Research and Academic Technologies (CARAT).
Carl shared his vast experience in instructional technology and practical research from the University of Michigan (plus some real-life humor) in an engaging presentation on "Back to the Future: After WYSIWYG, What is the Next Killer App?" In addition, some 90 participants from the Maricopa Community Colleges participated in an activity where they brainstormed ideas on what the next "killer app" might be. For more information, presentations, and references, see the forum web site.
What is a Killer App?
Typically a killer app is a software application that causes many people to choose to buy the system that it runs on (definition from whatis.com). It often refers to either a new kind of application that has never been seen before or any technology that is characterized by a rapid and wide adoption rate.
Killer App Examples
Other examples include VisiCalc, the first spreadsheet program. Probably the Killer App of all times was Mosaic -- the first graphical web browser -- or even the web itself. Recently predicted "contenders" for Killer App status include:
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The classic example Carl shared with us was the first WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) word processor that transformed the task of creating formatted documents from the command line mode of coding (much like HTML) to the now familiar point and click environment where we see on the screen what the output will be. This same killer app (software) arrived in 1984 on another killer app, the Apple Macintosh.
The team from Glendale brainstorms ideas on its' next "Killer App" |
Why is it Important?
Being aware of killer apps is critical given the rapid rate of technology evolution and the challenges of introducing change into our organization. It is essential to college planning and continuing to address the changing mode of learning. The clearest example for us was our 1994 bond election that included funds and plans for technology over the next seven years but had no provision or forecast of the World Wide Web. Except for a few futurists, there was no sense that students would be accessing their courses, registering for classes, or applying for loans via a graphical internet. Our colleges were not prepared to publish information via web servers or to support applications such as course management systems.
Predicting the Future
Carl shared many useful strategies used by the University of Michigan to deal with the not-so-clear future. A continual series of surveys of faculty and students has helped the university identify with data that show how people prefer to teach and learn, and has helped the University make difficult decisions on major systems such its web portal.
The concept and phrase that stuck with many of the Visioning Forum participants was what Carl called WINWINI- the notion that students desire What I Need When I Need It. This calls for technologies that support individualized information delivered at the time of need, such as wireless networks and ubiquitous services.
A scenario Carl described for the future (see video) included portable devices that were location enabled, so that when a student was in range of a transmission device, current assignments were communicated to the student. From anywhere on campus, she could have a live chat with a librarian who would help locate a critical research paper (in electronic format). The student could text message to her lab partner so he could make a modification to their group report.
Ideas for a "Killer App" created by a team from GateWay Communioty College |
Maricopa's Killer Apps
At the Visioning Forum, Carl led an activity where participants used a Nominal Group Process technique to brainstorm the next killer app for education. But this was not just dreaming; Carl had us consider what the barriers would be to embracing these Killer Apps and what we might have to give up to achieve them.
Over two days, groups developed ideas for 10 proposed Killer Apps that included aspects of wireless, universal access to all student services and learning materials, intelligent learning management systems, changes in the concept of a time-defined course, and more.
More Visioning
This year's Visioning Forums have also included exciting events featuring the League for Innovation's Mark Milliron (October 2002) and Gartner Group's Michael Zastrocky (February 2003), and will culminate in this year's Ocotillo Retreat (May 20, 2003).
 Alan Levine, mcli
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