The topic of emerging technologies is my current "day job" responsibility. I am often asked, "Just what do you mean by "emerging technologies"? That's a great question! I always begin my answer by explaining that as Director of Emerging Technologies, I supervise a fine team of Webmasters and programmers that are responsible for the Fischler Graduate School of Education (FGSE) Website. This involves maintaining over 90 Websites (at last count!), the development of new sites as needed, and running over a dozen Web-based and Windows-based applications most of which have been created/built by my staff.

The "technologies" part is insterestingly described as "emerging." For me, this means that it is my job to seek out and identfy new instructional technologies, to experiment with "what's new" as we work to repurpose the "old", and endeavor to implement the mottos of the Fischler Graduate School of Education and Nova Southeastern University -- "Ahead of the Curve" and "Beyond the Classroom."

Thus, I am fortunate to be the "gadget girl" at FGSE -- I usually have a new gizmo in my pocket and I continue to seek out the "cool stuff." My favorite technology conferences are FETC and NECC; these venues are happy hunting grounds for the "latest and greatest" in current and emerging instructional technologies.

Presented here is my list of favorite technologies. I list "pocket technologies" as well as hardware and software that I think are worthy of the term "emerging technologies." This is a short but powerful list at this point -- it will develop over time. Shop from the vendor of your choice!

Gadgets
Lexar "jump" drives or "thumb" drives
Aptek mini-DV camera
Apple Ipod
Targus mini optical mouse
USB mini-hub
PocketPC -- WindowsCE-based handheld

Instructional Delivery
WebCT
Blackboard
Elluminate's V-Class (now EluminateLive)
Visual Communicator
Surveyor -- Web-based survey development software

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