Comments on: The Strange Dynamics of Technology Adoption and Promotion in Academia http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/ Covering the intersection of digital technology and research, teaching, and learning in the humanities, including search, data mining, website development and design, and programming. Fri, 29 Aug 2008 20:16:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Moodle + Wordpress = Online University « Electric Archaeology: Digital Media for Learning and Research http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1572 Moodle + Wordpress = Online University « Electric Archaeology: Digital Media for Learning and Research Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:35:48 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1572 [...] management systems (others you might be familiar with are Blackboard, Horizon/wimba, and of course, the much loathed WebCT).  What is nice about Moodle is that it is all open source, php and mysql driven, and there are [...] [...] management systems (others you might be familiar with are Blackboard, Horizon/wimba, and of course, the much loathed WebCT).  What is nice about Moodle is that it is all open source, php and mysql driven, and there are [...]

]]> By: nirak.net - Musings of an LIS Student » More thoughts on Zotero and proselytizing http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1100 nirak.net - Musings of an LIS Student » More thoughts on Zotero and proselytizing Thu, 15 Nov 2007 04:40:25 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1100 [...] darcusblog, Bruce D’Arcus talks about librarian resistance to Zotero. Dan Cohen followed up with The Strange Dynamics of Technology Adoption and Promotion in Academia and Steve Lawson gave some good reasons for not promoting Zotero- including investment (monetary [...] [...] darcusblog, Bruce D’Arcus talks about librarian resistance to Zotero. Dan Cohen followed up with The Strange Dynamics of Technology Adoption and Promotion in Academia and Steve Lawson gave some good reasons for not promoting Zotero- including investment (monetary [...]

]]> By: NUAMPS Blog http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1099 NUAMPS Blog Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:13:41 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1099 <strong>Open Academia...</strong> There is an interesting discussion at Dan Cohen’s Digital Humanities Blog about Academia and the adoption of open source software. I think sometimes we make the mistake of relying too heavily on the ‘it’s free’ argument when pro... Open Academia…

There is an interesting discussion at Dan Cohen’s Digital Humanities Blog about Academia and the adoption of open source software. I think sometimes we make the mistake of relying too heavily on the ‘it’s free’ argument when pro…

]]> By: Bruce D'Arcus http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1091 Bruce D'Arcus Sun, 11 Nov 2007 20:04:39 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1091 Leslie: I don't have any experience with Sakai, so am not going to defend it just because it's free software. But a lot of the problems you note are equally (if not more so) true of Blackboard (which I grudgingly use) and WebCT. Leslie: I don’t have any experience with Sakai, so am not going to defend it just because it’s free software. But a lot of the problems you note are equally (if not more so) true of Blackboard (which I grudgingly use) and WebCT.

]]> By: Leslie M-B http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1089 Leslie M-B Fri, 09 Nov 2007 20:02:07 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1089 When we're talking about cost, let's remember, too, that "open source" does not equal "free." My institution has adopted Sakai as its course management system, and the number of staff required to support it (2 faculty trainers, several undergraduate tech partners, help desk, 3.5 programmers, communications/PR person, program manager, etc.) is really quite stunning. Try adding up those salaries and benefits, and you'll see the real cost of open source. I spent much of the last year working as a faculty trainer, and I became increasingly frustrated by the way that Sakai was offered as a solution to just about any teaching quandary. It's a fine system for some things (e.g. grading, giving quizzes). But the campus has oversold the system so much that now in my new position at the teaching resources center, I'm stuck convincing faculty that using Sakai without quite a bit of forethought can easily lead to diminished teaching and learning outcomes. When we’re talking about cost, let’s remember, too, that “open source” does not equal “free.” My institution has adopted Sakai as its course management system, and the number of staff required to support it (2 faculty trainers, several undergraduate tech partners, help desk, 3.5 programmers, communications/PR person, program manager, etc.) is really quite stunning. Try adding up those salaries and benefits, and you’ll see the real cost of open source.

I spent much of the last year working as a faculty trainer, and I became increasingly frustrated by the way that Sakai was offered as a solution to just about any teaching quandary. It’s a fine system for some things (e.g. grading, giving quizzes). But the campus has oversold the system so much that now in my new position at the teaching resources center, I’m stuck convincing faculty that using Sakai without quite a bit of forethought can easily lead to diminished teaching and learning outcomes.

]]> By: inkdroid » Blog Archive » zotero, extjs and drop-kicks http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1078 inkdroid » Blog Archive » zotero, extjs and drop-kicks Wed, 07 Nov 2007 03:59:39 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1078 [...] D’Arcus and Dan Cohen have some good insights into the ways libraries acquire and promote software. After seeing a [...] [...] D’Arcus and Dan Cohen have some good insights into the ways libraries acquire and promote software. After seeing a [...]

]]> By: sylvia martinez http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1077 sylvia martinez Wed, 07 Nov 2007 02:01:38 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1077 There is also the factor of the sales relationship. Since there is no sales person for the free alternative, it typically is an internal evangelist. and we all know the value of the "prophet in their own land". The sales person can promise all sorts of stuff that won't ever happen, but they will be on to the next sale. The internal evangelist has to live with the decision, and might be hesitant to push too hard. And the internal evangelist has no expense account budget for fine dining! There is also the factor of the sales relationship. Since there is no sales person for the free alternative, it typically is an internal evangelist. and we all know the value of the “prophet in their own land”. The sales person can promise all sorts of stuff that won’t ever happen, but they will be on to the next sale. The internal evangelist has to live with the decision, and might be hesitant to push too hard. And the internal evangelist has no expense account budget for fine dining!

]]> By: The Four Eyed Technologist » Blog Archive » links for 2007-11-07 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1074 The Four Eyed Technologist » Blog Archive » links for 2007-11-07 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:48:38 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1074 [...] The Strange Dynamics of Technology Adoption and Promotion in Academia A post I’ve been longing to write and just haven’t found the words. This and the post referenced are well worth reading for anyone making tech adoption decisions. (tags: opensource blackboard) [...] [...] The Strange Dynamics of Technology Adoption and Promotion in Academia A post I’ve been longing to write and just haven’t found the words. This and the post referenced are well worth reading for anyone making tech adoption decisions. (tags: opensource blackboard) [...]

]]> By: See Also... http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1072 See Also... Tue, 06 Nov 2007 22:50:28 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1072 <strong>Bibliographic turf...</strong> Trying to unpack my thoughts on Zotero vs. RefWorks and how librarians support bibliographic software. ...... Bibliographic turf…

Trying to unpack my thoughts on Zotero vs. RefWorks and how librarians support bibliographic software.
……

]]> By: Chris http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1069 Chris Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:11:10 +0000 http://www.dancohen.org/2007/11/05/the-strange-dynamics-of-technology-adoption-and-promotion-in-academia/#comment-1069 Bruce: That is a good point. I am certainly talking about content management and server software in response to Dan's CMS/Blackboard comments, not in regards to RefWorks vs. Zotero, which I realize was the original point of discussion. I'm afraid I can't offer any real reason for avoiding Zotero. As you mention in your original blog post, the argument that Zotero is 'free' has both to do with cost and the freedom of information. Bruce: That is a good point. I am certainly talking about content management and server software in response to Dan’s CMS/Blackboard comments, not in regards to RefWorks vs. Zotero, which I realize was the original point of discussion. I’m afraid I can’t offer any real reason for avoiding Zotero. As you mention in your original blog post, the argument that Zotero is ‘free’ has both to do with cost and the freedom of information.

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