网上资料发展的技术Evolving_Tech.docVIP

Evolving Technologies Technologies evolve through refinements in new versions and upgrades to products. Usually the enhancements are minor, but eventually older systems or hardware are no longer compatible or supported and soon become unusable. Leading edge software often contains bugs or is not robust when used outside the laboratory. Later releases become increasingly stable and appropriate for novice users. From the first telephone call to the mobile phone, telephony has evolved in imperceptible steps punctuated by a few grand leaps. So it is with the technologies for distributed learning. One of the acknowledged truisms of educational technology is that technology evolves much more rapidly than the willingness of teachers, learners and educational institutions to exploit those technologies for learning. In short, there is usually a long lag time between the appearance of a new technology and its eventual widespread adoption for educational purposes. Educational authorities are often reluctant to invest in buying hardware and software that will be out of date before the teachers have really begun to make good use of it. A vicious circle can develop whereby educators wait for the next evolution of the software or hardware to become available, but the next version is rapidly followed by another which may be incompatible with the previous. This is particularly true with respect to the technologies underpinning distributed education, where over the last twenty years, information and communication technologies have evolved very rapidly. However on the whole, the early adopters amongst educators at the post-compulsory level have been quick to apply each new refinement to improve the quality of distributed learning, to increase access and enhance the online learning environment for the benefit of distributed learners. The evolution of technologies for distributed learning is characterised by convergence: stand-alone systems have converged onto the web; the distinct tec