Technological changes are second nature to most of us who have been in the workforce over the past ten to twenty years. We arrive at our places of work, become aquainted with the latest form of technology, learn the necessary skills to adapt to our new friend, and go on with our vocation. We watch the youth of today learn computer skills as quick as they learn to walk and talk. Every once in a while something makes us stop and think how far we have come...
...In October I decided to persue my MBA. Unlike 20 odd years ago when I completed my BComm at U de M, I did not have to drive to the campus and stand in line to apply. Learning about the program online at the U de M website with today's technology, I was able to simply request forms, apply by fax and I was on my way. Reference letters were requested by email and returned by email or fax. I thought alot about the work I was taking on, and yes it has been work, however projects are now researced online. Gone are the days when hours were spent at libraries, of course working around the time it was open, and searching for and checking out endless books. Now we simply search a topic with an online encyclopedia such as http://www.wikipedia.org/ or go to www.Google.com and hundreds of sites of information are before us. Projects are typed on computers...not non-correctable typewriters requiring fine tuned artistic skills to cover mistakes, and presentations are saved on power point on laptops...no more bristol board, and no more overhead projectors balanced on a stack of texbooks to get exactly the right image on the pull down screen covering the chalk board. Presentations can be altered minutes before deadlines with no more than a few keystrokes. Meeting and ideas are co-ordinated with classmates via cell phones, text messages and email.
...In October I decided to persue my MBA. Unlike 20 odd years ago when I completed my BComm at U de M, I did not have to drive to the campus and stand in line to apply. Learning about the program online at the U de M website with today's technology, I was able to simply request forms, apply by fax and I was on my way. Reference letters were requested by email and returned by email or fax. I thought alot about the work I was taking on, and yes it has been work, however projects are now researced online. Gone are the days when hours were spent at libraries, of course working around the time it was open, and searching for and checking out endless books. Now we simply search a topic with an online encyclopedia such as http://www.wikipedia.org/ or go to www.Google.com and hundreds of sites of information are before us. Projects are typed on computers...not non-correctable typewriters requiring fine tuned artistic skills to cover mistakes, and presentations are saved on power point on laptops...no more bristol board, and no more overhead projectors balanced on a stack of texbooks to get exactly the right image on the pull down screen covering the chalk board. Presentations can be altered minutes before deadlines with no more than a few keystrokes. Meeting and ideas are co-ordinated with classmates via cell phones, text messages and email.
Information systems have definitely made university education alot more user friendly!
