Re: The pre-discussion paper for new discussion

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George Free (gfree@oise.utoronto.ca)
Thu, 15 Apr 1999 12:48:42 -0400 (EDT) 

Date: Thu, 15 Apr 1999 12:48:42 -0400 (EDT)
From: George Free <gfree@oise.utoronto.ca>
Subject: Re: The pre-discussion paper for new discussion

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On Thu, 15 Apr 1999, IFETS wrote:

> All of these call for different approaches for creating and delivering content.
> Up to the present time, most developers of software and hardware for The Academy
> have looked at traditional courses and how to translate them into various delivery
> vehicles. Capital and human resources are being committed to mapping the
> traditional institution into an electronic world. Does the future of the
> university require a different approach and , if so, what ?
>

A fascinating and difficult set of issues, Tom. Let me respond to the
above. Personally, I am beginning to doubt that our formal institutions of
learning will continue to have relevance in the future, at least as they
are configured now. I see a far more decentralized system emerging with
increased school-community links and, especially, the growth of informal
learning communities.

Perhaps formal institutions will continue to play some sort of role, but I
find that if I want to know something nowadays I go directly to the
experts and to the many electronic forums in which experts are
increasingly communicating their ideas and passing on their knowledge.
IFETS is an example of this. With the development of new collaborative
learning software the power and effectiveness of these informal
commuinities will increase.

If anything the role of the university should be to encourage this sort
of independent learning. Actually, thats pretty close to the Kant-von
Humboldt ideal, isn't it?

George Free

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