Forum Higher Ed & Training Forum: Re: Communities of practice

By: Dr. Mark Draper

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The glacial pace of progress in establishing dynamic COP's stems from technophobia. The digital divide is not between rich and poor but between faculty and student. The students are wireless and the faculty are clueless.

The faculty know that change is inevitable, but they fear it. Plus the short-term rewards are not there to encourage them to get with the 21st century. I'm afraid only the Great Leveler has the power to clear the way for those who want to create the future. Sometimes I think educational reform needs to begin with bulldozers and blowtorches.

At the same time, I am a great romantic about ivy towers, the quest for truth. Somehow out of ageless wisdom and cutting edge technology we have to build the great schools which will be the glory of the dawning era which I imagine future historians will call the Neorenaissance. Open source achievements like LAMS are certainly cause for hope.

Posted by Dr. Mark Draper