The gap between college students and those who teach, administer and serve them is deep and wide when it comes to technology. That disconnect was discussed extensively last year during two days of web strategic planning at UM. It seems critical that we reconcile the discomfort with technology among us aging Baby Boomers with the growing and changing expectations of the Net Generation. But how do we do that?
Educause has an e-book available on its site called Educating the Net Generation that might be worth a read. You can download the entire 264-page book in PDF format, or you can read it chapter-by-chapter in PDF or HTML format.
J. James Wagner, assistant provost for enrollment management and university registrar at The Pennsylvania State University contributed a chapter titled “Support Services for the Net Generation.” In a section subtitled “It’s not about technology” Wagner says more or less what the UM web strategic planning group attempted to articulate: that campus leaders (all of us) need to do a better job of aligning our investment in technology with broad strategic goals of the University.
Here’s what Wagner had to say:
“The Net Generation cares about the activity technology enables, not the technology, per se. The use of technology to improve student services will be critical to the academy. Yet, it’s not about technology. Technology is a tool—it represents the means, not the desired outcome. Students will use technology; in fact, they will expect services delivered through technology. But before focusing on technology, student service professionals must articulate a clear and unambiguous vision that provides the framework for the technology. IT staff are important contributors to the desired outcome and must be part of the process; however, the leadership for improved student services should not be expected to come from within the technology ranks. Rather, it must come from those charged with advising and registering students, administering student aid, admitting students, collecting tuition and fees, and so on.”
