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Keeping
the Touch in Technology 2007:
Crossing
Boundaries: Making
Knowledge about Teaching and Learning
Visible
The
burst of technological innovation that gave birth to online learning
and the connection of students and teachers in cyberspace has also
given rise to the concept and reality of the "boundaryless
community". In those circumstances the greatest potential population
of post secondary learners can be found in the developing countries
and their populations of four billion people. What does this mean
for higher education in this country - potential radical expansion
or the possibility of moving into second place? As both public and
private providers of higher education vie for the privilege of
helping to form young minds around the world, only those who can
provide access, quality and reasonable cost will emerge as
successful players in the higher education enterprise of the
future.
What
are the tools and policies that will equip such global educators?
How will they meet the extraordinary needs of emerging student
populations? Can American academe learn how to cross geographic,
cultural and traditional boundaries? These are questions with which
we grappled at this year's THE Forum.
The
2007 THE Forum identified the forces that are expanding the borders
of higher education at a breath-taking pace:
.
Context-aware computing promises intuitive, seamless environments
that facilitate discussion and dialogue.
.
The potential impact on higher education of augmented reality and
enhanced visualization is dawning.
.
The concept of social computing produces exponential benefits for
students and teachers with a dramatic increase in interaction and
feedback on ideas and assignments by peers and outside "visiting
experts" through the use of blogs, wikis, and vlogs. Students are
experiencing engagement with course material to the "power of
10"!
The
conference was informative and uplifting. 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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