Those who enthusiastically embrace technology are realizing the opportunities to reach students in new ways. Some of our faculty conduct problem-solving sessions, post answer keys, and administer quizzes via electronic methods. Many utilize the web's ubiquitous power to share student projects, collaborate on current research and archive valuable reference materials. The teleconferencing system may be yet another way to engage off-site students in meaningful distance learning activities. At the same time, instructors decry the loss of personal student-faculty contact that seems imminent and to some extent inevitable in today's overloaded society.
Education involves far more than the simple learning of facts and procedures.
Indeed, it is about the opening of minds to consider new concepts and new ways of seeking and evaluating truth. Application of new technology tends to compete with and somewhat inhibit direct interaction between teacher and student. By the same token, it may open new horizons for working and learning as we explore multi-faceted approaches to achieving our ultimate goal as educators. By working with a modest cohort of pioneers, we are starting to discover the ins and outs of making sound educational decisions with respect to technological innovations. We will make mistakes, we will learn, and we will improve.