On communications.

Your highlighting of the recent surge in technology in the February issue [Editor's Note, "The Urge to Converge"] struck me because I have been pondering that same aspect lately. We have an incredible ability to retrieve and present information as you've identified. Shifting from searching library shelves for printed material to seeing or listening to live presentations [at] the click of a mouse opens new worlds. Equally amazing is the amount [of information] that is available via the Internet. You make a valid point that we must shift our thought processes now to make the best use of these materials and a new, improved style of teaching. I can still remember the huge impact the pocket calculator had on science classes. Instead of spending half the teaching and testing time on math accuracy, those teachers were finally forced to teach their subject. It will realty bole down to the time-honored problem of "teaching old dogs," but it can be done. Now is the time for administrators to truly shine by re-evaluating techniques, curricula, and, most importantly, results--actually guiding their departments to loftier goals. Communication always has been the key to success, so, theoretically, we should be the most successful examples of our species.

MAC CHEEVER, Facilities Plng & Operations

Rock Valley College 

Rockford, IL