The Wired Tower: Perspectives on the Impact of the Internet on Higher Education

Rating:
Summary: Focus on Universities
Review: I was disappointed in this book. I assumed that the author would draw on a wealth of experience as the provider of Blackboard, the most common software for e-learning. Instead, the book was mostly an apologetic for why "brick and mortar" universities are superior to e-learning, and how they can add some e-learning features to maintain their dominance in the educational realm by becoming "brick and click" schools. The book does include some helpful facts and statistics, but I had hoped to find more than that. I was seeking creative ways to improve and develop e-learning. It didn't find that. The book might be helpful for some educators who are interesting tweaking the traditional university model, but not for people who are interested in more significant change.

Rating:
Summary: Focus on Universities
Review: I was disappointed in this book. I assumed that the author would draw on a wealth of experience as the provider of Blackboard, the most common software for e-learning. Instead, the book was mostly an apologetic for why "brick and mortar" universities are superior to e-learning, and how they can add some e-learning features to maintain their dominance in the educational realm by becoming "brick and click" schools. The book does include some helpful facts and statistics, but I had hoped to find more than that. I was seeking creative ways to improve and develop e-learning. It didn't find that. The book might be helpful for some educators who are interesting tweaking the traditional university model, but not for people who are interested in more significant change.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Theory, Little Know How
Review: Matthew Pittinsky has published the slightly stale presentations and speeches that educators and theorists delivered several years ago. What might have seemed like cutting edge thinking at that time is now missing the boat for the most part. Higher education is still grappling with how to deal with what has become a buyers' market for education. Faculty, who are stuck in the paradigm of a sellers' market and protected by the cloak of tenure, are the critical players in the e-learning scenario. Pittinsky hasn't found an answer to the real problem: who will hold faculty responsible for the fiscal strength and market share of higher education? As in so many instances, online learning has crystallized the issues of who teaches, who learns, and the bottom line for strong and productive higher education institutions.

Rating:
Summary: So You Want to Deliver E-Learning
Review: Pittinsky, the current chair of Blackboard, Inc.(a highly useful e-learning platform) recognizes that the Internet offers a dramatic shift from traditional education because of the global possibilities. He also warns that for institutions to join the ever-increasing distance delivery of college and technical coursework, they must know how technology will solve problems rather than complicate the educational services. Distance learning via technology requires active learners who willingly embrace the varying modes of instruction. Traditional, site-bound services may not be able to match the increasing world-wide demand for college and technical coursework. Projections for 2025 suggest that 160 million students will be seeking education. Compare that to the current 45 million people enrolled today.This book offers a heads-up approach to institutional leaders in determining whether or not Internet courses of study are feasible. I highly recommend this book for administrators and instructors as a first-read before rushing into a high/hidden cost program.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of Theory, Little Know How
Review: The book is one of the better ones I've read on the topic, and timely in view of the Internet's 20th anniversary and recent closures of e-learning initiatives, such as that of Fathom by Columbia. Perhaps one could quarrel with the title, particularly in light of comments in Chapter 6. "The Networked Tower" would give the title a longer shelf life.
More emphasis could be given to the difficulty in changing the culture of traditional institutions in their course delivery methods. Tenure and promotion rules don't yet value innovations in teaching with technology at most universities.
Chapter 6 on organizational structure and the CIO position could emphasize the desirability of academic credentials for holders of that position. Experience in the trenches of academic life is important both for what it teaches and for credibility with faculty being encouraged to adopt new methods. This chapter is one of the best in a fairly good book.
The book would benefit from a chapter or two giving some contrarian views to balance the optimism a bit. Perhaps that will be in a sequel volume.

Rating:
Summary: Networks in Higher Education!
Review: Wired and wireless! This book discusses network technology in colleges and university. It is written for educators and decision makers. It provides a base level of technical understand and explains important concepts necessary to decision making. This text helps decision makers and educators set realistic goals for technology that will ultimately help with adoption.

Rating:
Summary: Networks in Higher Education!
Review: Wired and wireless! This book discusses network technology in colleges and university. It is written for educators and decision makers. It provides a base level of technical understand and explains important concepts necessary to decision making. This text helps decision makers and educators set realistic goals for technology that will ultimately help with adoption.