Growing up, like many people, I tuned into Star Trek. When we look at advances in technology, we can thank creators of the original Star Trek for several electronic devices we use today. For example, in the late 1960’s Characters were using personal computers, tablets, portable memory, wireless earpieces, large viewing screens, and a hand held communicators. All of these things many of us use today on a regular basis. But, I have always thought it would be great if they could create a transporter. This is a teleportation machine that would allow people to be transported to different locations throughout the universe.
Being able to take my students beyond the walls of our classroom to different location around the world or even to outer space would take learning to a whole new level. Instead of having students do research about a specific country, climate, plant or animal on the computer, they could be transported group to a specific location where they participate in real live hands on learning. Students could see, hear, smell and touch animals or plants they doing research on. This would allow students to use the technology as a tool to for inquiry and allow them to self-direct their learning. When students were ready to return to the classroom, all they would have to do is use their cell phone and call their teacher. According to Josh Briggs, "Beam us up” is one of the most iconic lines in the history of television (2014). When students returned to their f2f classroom, they could present their experience and findings to their peers.
Briggs, Josh. "Top 10 \u0027Star Trek\u0027 Technologies That Actually Came True" 10 November 2009. HowStuffWorks.com. http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/10-star-trek-technologies.htm 27 January 2014.