Focus Question: Which type of person in Rodgers Diffusion of Innovation Model do you most relate yourself to?
If you ask my co-worker/mentor he will tell you that I am a gadget freak/ addict. We joke about it all the time, but I think in this model I would be considered an early adopter or innovator. Now I don't know if Dr. Newberry wanted to know if we relate to the model in a professional way or in a personal way. I have examples of both to show that I am somewhere around an early adopter.
Well I was one not to jump on the ipod bandwagon, but once I had money to buy one that was the end of that. Once I bought my first ipod shuffle, I was dragged or pushed into it. You can say I was a late majority at that point because I had to know the benfits of the ipod and how to work it. Well my brother did his homework and got me to buy one. When I got it home and started using it I found out useful it was compared to caring CD's around. When the little shuffle grew out dated and did not have enough room to fit all my music, I then decided to get an ipod nano, which is bigger, but not the biggest one. Once that one got too small, I then bought the biggest and best one. To make a long story short I have gone through two other ipods after that, plus I'm now waiting for my sixth MP3 player. An ipod touch to be exact. This is because I want to have the new electronic of this time and I can't wait until I get it.
Now when I started this job I was a newbie to Macs, especially computer work altogether. I knew nothing about installing software or repairing computers. One day I was asked if I knew anything about iMovie. The reason was a teacher was leaving and she wanted a movie of her last class at this school and the last one she would have in this state because she was moving out of state. This perked my interest because it sounded fun and interesting to do. So without knowing anything I took on the job. Once I got started with it, I could not stop. I had to have the latest laptop with the latest version to work on it at home. Soon enough I finished it and I had everyone wanting one made for their class. I even did one for my friends and I. I wanted the lastest and best version. Now there are people at the school who use it to make the school video yearbook and some teachers use it to make a class video. So in this aspect I think I am an innovator because I started a trand at my job site.
I also think in order for anyone to be an innovator or an early adopter is they have to have an interest in the innovation. One example I have is when I was asked to repair some pictures with PhotoShop. Still to this day I am hestiant to use the program because to me it is too difficult to understand because I don't have all the knowledge about JPEGs and photo language. It all depends on the technology and the interest of the person involved.
Activity Log:
2/3/09- Started looking for word tutorials and other manuals out there, sent e-mail to principal about trainings
2/4/09- Listen to podcast, wrote blog
2/8/09- Still working on projects, posted comments on fellow student blogs, found out I have to use Microsoft 04 for project because of complications with Word 08.
Activity Log Session 10
17 years ago
Hi Bill, I also consider myself to be at different levels depending on whether or not it is at work or at home. I feel that people would be more likely to try out new technology at home on their own before sharing it with a class full of students. I know that is how I was when I first using more advanced technology with my students.
ReplyDeleteJust like you, Bill, I also see myself as an innovator. I like trying out new applications and gadgets.
ReplyDelete"I also think in order for anyone to be an innovator or an early adopter is they have to have an interest in the innovation."
I agree, if it does not motivate you, it's really difficult to gain interests. I'm not sure if you've tried using youtube.com to search for tutorials. I know for a fact they have a lot on Photoshop. I found those video tutorials really helpful and beneficial.
Bill, you bring up an interesting point. I could be wrong, but I think one of the differentiating factors between an early adopter and an innovator is the need. An innovator looks for technology that they do not know yet what it will be used for, while an early adopter has a mission in mind and looks for new solutions to meet that mission.
ReplyDeleteGrace, you are very right about youtube. I was talking with one of our tech savvy teachers the other day, and she said that her son had learned how to play the bass guitar almost entirely using youtube. Well, I just bought Final Cut Express to evaluate using it as a tool to create online instructional material. I opened the program for the first time and had no idea of how to use it. I jumped on to youtube, recalling the story I had just heard from my collegue, and what do you know; I created my first movie yesterday. The great part about the experience for me was that it was primarily teenagers teaching me how to use Final Cut Express. Bill K
Hello Bill, you make a good point when you say, “in order for anyone to be an innovator or an early adopter is they have to have an interest in the innovation”. That’s the reason I I think I consider myself both an innovator and early adopter.
ReplyDelete