"The Future of Information Technology (Implications for Higher Education)"
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SEPTEMBER 18 , 2006—On September 18, Dr. James Penrod addressed a diverse gathering of UO Information Technology staff on the future of IT and its implications for higher education. Dr. Penrod’s talk launched the first in a series of open lectures sponsored by Information Services and the Vice Provost for Information Services and CIO, Don Harris.
The expectations of the new tech-savvy generation of “millenials” are driving sea changes in the way higher ed does business, whether it is the business of imparting knowledge or the business of recruiting students. But Dr. Penrod cautioned that simply adding technological bells and whistles is not the sole answer to the educational challenges of the new century. The “age of information” we’ve now entered puts a higher value on ideas and collaboration. It requires greater flexibility in every area. Management styles, teaching methods, even physical learning spaces must adapt. In the university of the 21st century, architectural space must be ready to accommodate multipurpose functions, and the IT environment may well be a blend of vendor-based and open-source products, offering more a la carte purchase options and new pricing models. The IT needs of the entire university now must take precedence over any narrower technological focus.
To learn more about Dr. Penrod’s thoughts on the future of IT in higher education and what we must do to meet the challenge, you may view the complete video of his remarks at http://videolab.uoregon.edu/events/cc/james-penrod-lecture-2.mp4. Click here to see the PowerPoint presentation.
James I. Penrod was one of the first dozen Chief Information Officers to be appointed in an institution of higher education and has served at four universities in that capacity: Pepperdine University, the University of Maryland at Baltimore, California State University Los Angeles, and the University of Memphis. He holds a doctorate in Institutional Management from Pepperdine University, a masters in Biostatistics from Tulane University, and a bachelors in Mathematics from Harding University.He is the author of more than 50 publications and speaks regularly to national and regional audiences.