The Labyrinth Perspective-

Our Dilemma

Actually, we feel the same paralysis in the face of wave after wave of new ideas and instructional techniques- other kinds of technologies. Activated learning, collaborative learning, classroom research, building communities, open entry/open exit, building communities, and others compete for our attention. Writing Across the Curriculum, critical thinking, computing, and international awareness appeal for inclusion (and a natural, seamless inclusion, at that!) in our curricula.

We are buffeted by wave after wave of fashionable ideas and slick technologies.

To avoid the paralysis, some of us grab one wave and surf it for a while. Others of us ride the tide, waiting until the right wave comes along. We'll recognize it right away, of course.

Just when we start to feel some control over computing, along comes multimedia, and before that has crested here come PDA's. All we wanted was access to A1 and we've gotten access to the world thru Bitnet. The next generation of personal/networked computers is appearing, with new operating systems and even more possibilities.

So what is the dilemma? Isn't a day at the beach fun?

1. We find it impossible to become literate in all the technologies that might help us assure the best possible learning for students.

2. We find it difficult to concentrate even on one technology to fully explore its possibilities for instruction.

3. We lack a methodology for evaluating the results of our implementations.

And all this in the face of wave after wave of wonderful possibilities.

That's our dilemma.