Humans and the Machines- For Better and Worse, The

Ernst Fischer, an Austrian editor, poet, and critic commented in his 1959 book, The Necessity of Art, "As machines become more and more efficient and perfect, so it will become clear that imperfection is the greatness of man." What seemed like a philosophical debate at that time-the potential loss of humanism in the presence of increasing scientific breakthroughs-clearly is a more significant issue today.

Our world has been blessed-and some would say cursed -with almost 50 years of rapidly changing technology since Fischer made that statement. ENIAC, the world's first computer, began operating in 1946, weighed more than 30 tons and had 19,000 vacuum tubes; 1,500 relays; and hundreds of thousands of resistors, capacitors, and inductors.

Today, most middle-class homes have at least one personal computer that sits on a desk (or can be carried in a briefcase) that has greater computing power.

In the workplace, most of us have come to rely on our computers, e-mail, faxes, the Internet, and the multitude of other technological advancements that make it possible for us to exchange information rapidly with people nearby or in remote locations, as well as to conduct complex calculations and analyses in the virtual wink of an eye.

The spread of technology into workplace education and training was inevitable, but it's not an application of these modern-day tools that's accepted by every instructor or every learner. Although technology can improve access to and availability of critical information and instructional materials, some educators and trainers believe that technology-based training lacks "heart."

This winter issue of The Journal for Quality and Participation probably won't resolve the questions associated with the pros and cons of classroom training versus technology-based training for you, but we're hoping it will help you understand more about what's happening in the field of e-learning and when and how to incorporate e-learning into your education and training strategies and plans.

We've included a glossary of terms, "Lingo Bingo," to help you navigate through this issue and build common definitions for technical terms within your organization.

Elliott Masie, a world-renowned expert in e-learning, shares his perspectives on the trends that are occurring in technology-based training-particularly how things looked shortly after September 11 compared to how they look today.

Although the authors in this issue support the use of technology in education and training, you'll find that they're all concerned that the role of computers and other hardware and software is managed appropriately. You'll see phrases such as "Content is king!" to remind you that technology-based training is only as good as the information it provides and the ways it facilitates learning. Take a moment to read "Beyond Edutainment and Technotainment" to get a sense of the pros and cons of technology in K-12 instruction.

As you glance through "This Issue in Summary," you'll find summaries on the articles related to these new models for learning, as well as information on our two general interest articles on team spirit and fun in the workplace. We provide these synopses to help you prioritize your reading and provide "cliff notes" for discussions and presentations.

Don't forget to drop us a line to let us know your reaction to this isstie, as well as to share your experiences with both c- and e-learning in your own organization.

Deborah Hopen

Editor

Copyright Association for Quality and Participation Winter 2003
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