As an accountant, writer and presenter – I use and am comfortable with technology. As a professor – it seems to be a whole new world. Partly because academia is constrained by “old thinking” – partly because we misunderstand the constraints.

When I worked in public accounting I got involved in computer consulting for clients. The clients were very resistant to giving up their old ways. After all, things had worked well since forever, why change? The new technology presented a huge learning curve. After all, an accounts payable manager was an expert in their area and they resented feeling “stupid” as they were shown the processes they would be now following.

And there were fears of computer crashes, data loss, security and yes – job security. Computers were disruptive technology in accounting 30 years ago.

I hear those concerns echoed now as my colleagues and I move forward.

I think it is impossible to imagine the educational process 10 years from now. It will be different – that is all we can say with confidence. But it is exciting.

UPDATE – Five years later

Well it seems like academia has moved beyond overhead projectors and has begun to embrace learning depositories and web based lesson notes. E-text books are gaining some acceptance. There is a push to create “blended learning” although from my perspectives the “pushers” have no idea what it should look like. But there is a long way to go. The IT department still controls things that don’t need controlling. Adding online ticketing for tasks has removed quick fixes for simple things as you wait (it seems endlessly) for your ticket to reach the top of the pile.

A wise person said that voicing a problem without a solution is just whining.

So I’m just whining.