Re: Wired Classrooms

Matvey Sokolovsky (sokolovs who-is-at uconnvm.uconn.edu)
Fri, 14 Nov 1997 16:35:11 -0800 (PST)

I'm in the University of CT, and the university received a huge grant from
the state over 10 years to upgrade its facilities. They are constructing
parking garage, new buildings, new field house, dorms, etc. etc. High
technology is interpreted as classrooms that allow a professor to project
from a computer, play videos, etc. A lot of money is spent and construction
business of CT is flourishing.

However, I believe it is all wasted money (though this type of waste is a
little better than nuclear submarines, in my opinion). I think that sooner
or later pretty intensive online institutions would emerge with
geographically distributed learning. Would our university applaud to it? Not
really. And empty buildings would not be the main reason. Empty professors'
pockets may be more important, I believe. I doubt that millions of students
all over the world would recognize Uconn's professors as top heads in business.

So I share pessimism in expecting real technology innovation. As Kuhn put
it, an average professor's retirement is a step toward a wired classroom.
Matvey Sokolovsky