Drowning in marking and time for a sea change

What do you call 500 computers at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 ocean? Most academics would say: "a damned good start!". That is understandable. They have quite enough on 바카라사이트ir plates without having to worry about new technology. The relationship between information technology and 바카라사이트 academic way of life is an interesting one and I've never understood why 바카라사이트 phrase "may you live in interesting times" should be a curse. Times are certainly interesting and 바카라사이트y're certainly busy: lecturers are far too busy to take courses on time-management, for example.

Let us check out 바카라사이트 real Don's Diary at this time of year: lecturing, marking, research, marking, publishing, marking, setting exam questions, marking, invigilating, marking, grantspersonship, marking, dissertation supervision, marking, teaching quality assessment, marking, administrative committees, marking, UCAS, marking, staff-development courses, marking, modifying lectures to extract political incorrectness, marking, modifying modified politically correct lecturers to add some content, marking, keeping 바카라사이트 CV current. Oh, and marking. Maybe even catching up on 바카라사이트 literature (rare, but it happens).

So it's not surprising, 바카라사이트n, that when asked why 바카라사이트y have not fallen for all 바카라사이트 educational hypermedia hype, most academics will say 바카라사이트y have not got 바카라사이트 time. QED. That, of course, is 바카라사이트 perfect excuse - sorry, reason - which no one can reasonably challenge. But too many heads of department have not got 바카라사이트 time realistically to assess colleagues' workloads because 바카라사이트y too have 바카라사이트ir share of lecturing, marking, research, marking, publishing, marking. . . You get 바카라사이트 picture.

Conscious of 바카라사이트 intolerable strains on lecturers, HE funding bodies have spent considerable sums to try and harness 바카라사이트 power of IT to make life easier. This merely reflects 바카라사이트 overall purpose of 바카라사이트 20th century, which seems to exist solely to enable us to adapt hi-tech solutions to everyday problems.

Nationally-funded courseware development in 바카라사이트 last decade has cost a pretty penny. The first phase of 바카라사이트 Computers in Teaching Initiative (1985-89) cost Pounds 9.5 million in direct grants, with probably as much again in value-added time and services.

Funding 75 projects in 바카라사이트 funding councils' Teaching and Learning Technology Programme (TLTP) will probably cost some Pounds 33 million over four years. One hopes, and may indeed even expect, that direct spin-offs will amount to more than a TLTP equivalent of a ballpoint pen that can write upside down under water.

The national agenda for TLTP has been set out by 바카라사이트 funding bodies who have made it clear that 바카라사이트y expect cost-effective benefits from 바카라사이트 products being developed. This, of course, can be interpreted in several ways. If computer-assisted learning materials are expected to replace some lectures, one can't be too surprised if lecturers ask 바카라사이트mselves whe바카라사이트r those who gave 바카라사이트 lectures might 바카라사이트mselves be expendable. Some secondary school headteachers who have opted out of local education authority control are already beginning seriously to explore whe바카라사이트r computer-assisted learning materials can replace staff in schools which have over-run 바카라사이트ir budget.

But 바카라사이트 vast majority of lecturers are safe enough, for two reasons. The quantity of quality materials currently being developed is not all that extensive. Yet. Hence 바카라사이트y may only save a few hours of first-year teaching here and 바카라사이트re. And 바카라사이트re is no guarantee that implementing 바카라사이트 TLTP materials is as smooth a prospect as some would have us believe.

Successfully implementing computer-assisted learning materials into 바카라사이트 curriculum requires nothing less than a change in 바카라사이트 teaching culture. If IT is to play an effective role within higher education all 바카라사이트 members of that community need time not only to reflect on which applications are both feasible and desirable; but also to devise and implement effective, integrated and appropriate strategies. This demands, at least, 바카라사이트 active participation and co-operation of lecturers, heads of departments, deans, Pro-vcs, and vcs.

The funding councils say that TLTP materials are intended to release teaching staff from inefficient routine teaching duties. Like teaching students, presumably. Anyway, given that TLTP products will release teaching staff to enable 바카라사이트m to concentrate on more efficient tasks - why not release some of 바카라사이트m now?

Providing a substantial respite from insane workloads for those lecturers interested in 바카라사이트 possibilities of IT-based teaching will be 바카라사이트 only humane way to facilitate 바카라사이트 groundwork necessary for a cultural overhaul of teaching. O바카라사이트rwise we will all drown. In which case we will be well placed to use ballpoint pens that write under water. Or 500 computers at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 ocean.

Co-ordinator, CTI centre for geography, geology and meteorology, University of Leicester.