Thursday, March 20, 1997 @ 7:56:38 AM 

Information Curriculum Commmittee focused on degrees (school-wide).  No
other prgrams in same conceptual league.  Start with curriculum letting
lead rather than research.  Does application ring work?  Concentric
structure:  applications -> methodology -> applications. (Faye) the
applications drive the research, e.g., virtual reality; artificial
life.  Larry wants to look at education -- current model is ruining us,
people & RPI.  A focus on our business -- education. Works for research,
not undergrad curriculum. Larry wants us to look at how you break
barriers between (h.s.) and college, class barriers, info access
barriers. Uneven distribution of talents and abilities is exacerbated
by technology. Distance learning isn't the answer -- human contact is
essential for interest [and motivation]. Larry:  we should be in teacher
training and curriculum development. Pat:  online programs for high
school; U of Wales has programs, collaboration over world. Would also
be a recruitment tool..  Distance learning soon to be a commodity sold
by universities--and business.

	Students need to be attracted by fun and cutting edge stuff.
	They come hear and it's boring.  We could reach down to attract
	students so that they are "in the channel" of RPI.  Why would
	students come here? To push the envelope (which is what the
	grad, not undergrads, do). Selmer wants students to have fun,
	be fulfilled, give them a head start for when they leave, the
	opportunities that grads have.  Faye talked to head of library
	about transformation of knowledge access. There's a common
	interest between the problem of accessing knowledge and
	organizing knowledge. One of our pieces might be knowledge and
	education. This would be one of our pieces. Les Rubenfield key
	person in this area. NJ visitors in seeing RPI offer grade 13 &
	14 education. Pat--even broader is education. [send email re:
	Leigh Star's talk].  NYNEX variation of Chiat/Day, only poorly.
	This is another area we could work in. It's part of design
	issues -- who do you consult in designing workplace? relates to
	unions, economics and contingent workplace. Point is that,
	pragmatically, we have to find areas where there is mutual and
	overlapping interests among engineers. Globalization is another
	issue. The trick is that these issues are very broad and we
	have to know how to touch on these.  The destruction of
	civilization? The dark vision of the future. Dehumanizing part
	of technology.  Jack Wilson, "This technology is going to have
	its way with us." It's not rape, it's seduction; we could marry
	the technology (we have enough power of discrimination).
	Faye:  need a variety of scenarios for the future (how does one
	resist seduction?) not just the dark and utopian futures. The
	question has to do with democratic values--F. this debate is
	familiar to people in other terms.  Recounting of article by
	Mark Helpern. Two scenarios, one hi-tech; one out in nature.
	[ask Faye for article; also one on virtual reality]. We've hit
	on essence of our contribution, but how do we package.  A
	course on 2050 based on sci fi, course based on fundamentals
	(all students should be thinking about) to develop a sustained
	dialogue that will reappear in later courses. Essence: the
	charge for H&SS is to recognize the seduction in life and
	society and by making them apparent to provide a basis for more
	enlightenling & satisfying choices than if one wasn't aware of
	the variety of choices.  Mark Shepard is interested in H&SS
	connection to virtual reality. SCAIT committee discusses
	information technology. Faye will ask for open meeting so that
	we can interact with Mark on virtual reality issues.

http://www.rpi.edu/dept/sts/Linn/YR2050.html