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[edwardneal]

When I read the list of "Top 10 Trends in Information Technology" I thought I was having a bad case of deja vu.  Most of these trends appear to be the same issues that IT people have been talking about for at least ten years--especially "improved customer service" (I almost choked when I read that one, given ongoing problems at my university). 

Moreover, one of the most important issues was missing from the list:  evaluation of IT's pedagogical effectiveness.  Academics are a skeptical lot, by training and inclination, and they are also conservative (at least with respect to the way they teach and perform research).  Perhaps if the IT community were able to provide more solid, empirical proof that their "solutions" are effective, they would have greater success. 

Perhaps the persistence of these issues is also evidence that the attitudes and beliefs represented by IT people make it impossible to communicate with (or certainly persuade) the academic community that they have something worthwhile to sell. Language is a social product that grows from a culture's norms, values, beliefs, and ideologies. If these elements are not shared, then cross-cultural communication is difficult, if not impossible.

Evidence of this "cultural gap" is clearest in trend #9 ("How are we going to use mobile learning, such as podcasts and social-networking sites?").  Every time a new technology is introduced, the response of IT people is to ask "How can we apply this tool to education?"  Academics prefer to identify a problem first, determine the nature and extent of the problem, and then seek a solution (more than likely, several solutions).  What problem is "mobile learning" designed to solve? 
 

[sciencephd]

What problem is "mobile learning" designed to solve? 

Students who can't sit still.

[polly_mer]

The original post is actually spelled correctly with a logical flow.

However, I deduct points for lack of context or obvious reason for the post.

[mountain_ivy]

Note that two of the three participants are consultants -- talk about self-serving!!

[jonesey]

However, I deduct points for lack of context or obvious reason for the post.

It's IT; why would it have context or reason?

[mountain_ivy]

I googled the head of our IT (whom I loathe) and found his name/our college associated with porn.  I loved it!  I emailed it to him and he told me these things happen all the time--technology makes it possible!?!?!?!

[csguy]

Evidence of this "cultural gap" is clearest in trend #9 ("How are we going to use mobile learning, such as podcasts and social-networking sites?").  Every time a new technology is introduced, the response of IT people is to ask "How can we apply this tool to education?"  Academics prefer to identify a problem first, determine the nature and extent of the problem, and then seek a solution (more than likely, several solutions).  What problem is "mobile learning" designed to solve? 
 

You must know different academics than I do. What I often hear about is the latest educational thing (learning styles, assessment, whatever) and a very similar "How can we apply this thing?" question.

I will admit that some IT stuff is just "let's join the latest fad".

I see the motivation for exploring the use of social learning sites as "Here is something people are doing outside the classroom -- can it be used to enhance education?"  It's more of a let's follow a social trend than let's exploit new technology.