I need to write more about the things I care about. I wonder about the future of US higher education, and I work someplace where we’re going to be dealing with those issues in a big way in the next few years. I’m both fascinated by how little things in educational technology change and the amazing transformations that have occurred in my 20+ years in the field. I’ve recently had to deal with professional and personal loss that I’m still processing every day and I don’t know where it’s leading me.
I’m not usually a technology zealot, but I’ve had my share of biases and prejudices over the years. I’m actually remarkably calm these days about such issues–iOS versus Android, MacOS versus Windows versus Linux. I don’t really care anymore. They’re just things you use to do other things, and in some you click here and in others you drag there, and in my mind the incremental differences in usability are usually balanced out–some things are easy in one, and other things are easy in the other. Use what works for you, when you need it.
What’s important is to understand the underlying issues–how is technology shaping the way we learn, and perhaps our very definition of information itself? What is important for the well-rounded individual to know and understand about technology (I think people should understand the basic principles of computers, devices and networks; and know enough programming to be able to think algorithmically about solving problems. I also think people should know calculus not because you’ll use it every day but understanding the basic ideas of how calculus works puts a permanent dent in your worldview that shapes how you attack other problems and how you examine complex systems. I don’t do any VAX/VMS systems management any more but the principles of computer organization and levels of a system shape how I view our complex multivendor network.
I’ll try and write weekly about things that interest me. I may refer or respond to people I know or who I think are saying things that need to be said. Perhaps I’ll present a contrarian view. I will probably also document significant professional events. I will not betray confidentiality or air my or others’ dirty laundry, despite the fact that those stories are often the most informative (you’ll have to at least buy me a beer for that.)
So welcome, and let’s hope I keep this alive instead of being one of those half-started blogs that are so popular on the Internet.
