"...building visions, crafting agendas, and getting funding for solutions takes time. And that means a gap between evolving technology trends and and the actual adoption of new technology in our institutions. It is a dilemma that places education constantly behind the learning technology curve." XplanaZine attributes Will Richardson's reflections from a blogevangelism experience as the primary source for the frustrations expressed in "Behind the Technology Learning Curve -- Education as Usual" Will's experience and the reactions from educators and leadership are similar to what I have experienced, but at a different scale.
I tend to tread lightly on criticism of higher education's acceptance/diffusion/integration of technology, in part, because I am part of that world and I see first hand the struggles over technology's place in the broad range of activity on campus. Even closer to synapse-shocking sensations are my observations as a graduate student in education. Technology resources for future educators seem to be in short supply, classes for integrating technology into curricula (unless one consider's PowerPoint cutting edge technology...arrrgh!) are few and far between, and frustration over the university's LMS may be highest in the very department where educators are trained. There, I said it...we are our own enemy. And the failure has little to do with whatever bit of rapidly depreciating hardware we have on hand, but a failure to build vision, set technology agendas, and find funding...and in that order. In defense of my friends in education, time is our worst enemy. The desire to get things right, to do what is best for future educators, and to produce constructivist professionals includes other priorities besides technology. Unfortunately, the technology dragon is relentless...moving at an ever faster pace, and we are in short supply of white knights.