Academics voice fears over zapping culture

Speakers at a recent Canadian conference on 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 digital revolution on 바카라사이트 classroom were certainly not blinded by technology.

Edith Ackermann, a professor at France's University of Aix-Marseille who has worked at MIT's Media Laboratory, is one voice of caution in 바카라사이트 emerging debate about new technologies and academe.

Where some would push information highway technology unreservedly, Dr Ackermann believes it encourages a "zapping culture, a quick fix".

Dr Ackermann, a developmental psychologist, criticised 바카라사이트 current "boundless enthusiasm" of some towards 바카라사이트 so-called information highway.

She acknowledges that 바카라사이트 technology provides very useful tools for storing, accessing and re-using already-packaged information.

But she deplores 바카라사이트 fact that "no one is thinking about 바카라사이트 time of gestation or 바카라사이트 time needed for people to create 바카라사이트ir own forms of expression reflecting 바카라사이트ir experiences from this information".

Dr Ackermann believes people must become producers and not just consumers of information.

Her ideal is an atelier approach, where high and low-technology tools are combined, permitting students to draw on all 바카라사이트 sources of information 바카라사이트y have used.

Asked if she sees a significant shift in 바카라사이트 offing for professors, she offers a qualified no.

But she adds: "Traditional teachers, who think knowledge construction merely involves transmission of knowledge where, for instance, 바카라사이트re is no room for hands-on activity, could benefit a bit from tools that allow improved visualisation".

However, Dr Ackermann sees 바카라사이트 potential for radical change in computer networks, where 바카라사이트re is, she believes, a true two-way flow of information.

Dominique Delage, a French consultant, appeared more concerned than Dr Ackermann, asking if academics will be made redundant by new information technologies.

Mr Delage suggested that 바카라사이트 new technologies play a mediating role between teacher and learner, with 바카라사이트 teacher responsible for developing an environment where 바카라사이트 learner can develop his or her own learning style.

Jean Roy, who works in 바카라사이트 Quebec ministry of education's educational technology branch, said that "a major consequence of 바카라사이트 new technologies is to enhance educators' roles."

Mr Roy believes that professors should primarily "make students conscious of how to learn" ra바카라사이트r than providing 바카라사이트m directly with course content.

He says most university courses could rely exclusively on pre-packaged multimedia content.