Educational Progress Without People? A Theoretical Perspective on Delivery Technology in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper describes a widespread belief about the process of technological change and its results, arguing that this belief does not explain what is happening in higher education. Rather, our belief in this plausible misconception provides a cover story for those driving technological change and a psychological defence against our anxieties about technology. We need to give critical attention to the future envisaged by the information technology revolutionaries and find a way to say clearly and convincingly that we are shapers of our destiny, not slaves of a technological treadmill. In particular, university funding should be directed toward the pursuit of learning not to furthering technoutopian dreams for the machine. © 1999, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.