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Keeping the
Touch in Technology 2005:
Launching
Globally Engaged Learners:
The Technology
Imperative
Higher
education faculty and institutions are grappling with the issue of
how to effectively prepare students for a contemporary world whose
hallmarks are global change and interconnection. Many are
contemplating the meaning of a contemporary liberal education that
is more practical and more engaged. How can we enrich classroom
interaction with experiences in the workplace, the larger community
or cultures around the world? The rapid, magical transportation
provided by technology is an obvious component of the answer. It
offers flexibility in time, both for exposure to information and for
mastering of skills and/or an entire discipline. It also offers
flexibility of communication. Technology has opened almost limitless
resources that unveil infinite vistas and possibilities to lifelong
learners. As institutions of higher learning adapt to these changed
realities, as they adopt innovative approaches to producing
integrative thinkers, they are evolving in ways that can be
transformational. They are thus better able to launch students into
a globally interconnected world. These students are comfortable
working in diverse groups and communicating in more than one
language. They have great knowledge and awareness of the world's
culture. They have been imbued with a sense of responsibility for
their fellow citizens of the world.
These
global forces and realities formed the back-drop for our reflections
at THE Forum '05. It is in this context that we continued to
showcase important developments in the use of technology to enhance
teaching & learning, professional development, and
assessment.
We invite
you to browse the site and learn from your colleagues. If you would like to leave a
comment, please feel free to do so in the comment section of the
site.
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