'Thizomic' Knowledge and the Relationship of Technology Adaptation to Institutional Mission and Culture

SCUPer James Morrisson, editor of Innovate: Journal of Online Education, is a fan of "SCUP Links" and we're a fan of his digital-only journal. Often the articles are focused a bit more finely than would be appropriate for SCUP Links, but this month's issue contains some potential gems: "Dave Cormier tackles the difficult theme of knowledge by using the metaphor of the rhizome, a plant with no center and no clear boundary, to describe the way knowledge is created in the context of Web 2.0 technologies. “Knowledge as negotiation” provides a lens through which to view the current community-based notion of curriculum. As social technologies move from our personal lives into academic settings, corresponding community and social interaction around information and knowledge will become an important part of education." Also: Robert G. Henshaw analyzes shifting demographics, labor markets, and related factors in urging higher education to “redefine their institutional culture and missions.” Henshaw links technology-adoption patterns to the ability of institutions to meet the emergent needs of learners as well as the need for institutions to retain faculty."