Rosenberg is only one of many Macalester professors currently exploring the possibilities of the computer revolution through Website construction, multimedia presentations and access to online readings. But students, who daily deal with network crashes and printer problems, have had mixed reactions. With technology changing so quickly, Rosenberg worries that students in disciplines that do not require more than word processing will be left behind. She has proven with her classes that that does not have to be the case. The Internet, she believes, could transform how history is taught.
Students now have access to a wealth of primary sources without leaving the comfort of campus.
This allows them to be historians rather than simply study what previous historians have done. An additional benefit is the vast amount of material offered on the Web. Rosenberg directs students to relevant Websites, and they select readings based on their interests. But Rosenberg doesn't expect books to fall completely out of style. Some experiments have worked better than others.