…Daniel Indiviglio makes the case at Atlantic.com, note in particular reason number two. For years people with a vested interest in networked information technology have made the case that not providing students with digital technologies will mean they are left out or left behind (or suffer both fates). The case has also been made that extensive use of digital technologies can mean less costly education as it will mean you need fewer people to teach. The problem is networked information technology requires an infrastructure and this infrastructure costs money. The problem is, networked information technology has a short shelf life (or cycle as technologists would say), and expensive computers must be replaced. While Sergey Brin may opine that books are as transient as the rising tide, the fact of the matter is even paperback books last longer than e-book readers of any ilk. Digital technology has a built in obsolescence which manifests in upgrades–in short, Indiviglio is right that an education immersed in digital technologies is going to be considerably more expensive than one that has at least one foot firmly on the print, one hand holding a piece of chalk…
…I know, I know, I’m blogging this…