What obstacles do you see hindering educators from realizing the educational opportunities afforded by information technology tools?
CT: As noted futurist Joel Barker says, we are blinded by our paradigms, our assumptions about the world—something he calls the “paradigm effect.” Because of the paradigm effect, people are unable to see the potential in new applications of technology. Jim Wetherbe said in a speech some years back that “the biggest obstacle to innovation is thinking it can be done the old way.” Faced with the invention of the telegraph, the Pony Express bought faster horses. When that failed, it hired better riders. The founders of the Pony Express did not realize that the world had changed, and they eventually went out of business. Here is another example: the first ATM was located inside a bank and was available only during banking hours. Real innovation did not occur until ATMs were placed outside the bank, as well as in malls, grocery stores, and airports, and became available 24 hours a day. Colleges and universities are currently offering thousands of online courses, thus moving beyond the ti
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