30 Years of Information and Educational Change: How should our practice respond?

 You'd better start swimming or you'll sink like a stone, For the times they are a changin - Bob Dylan

When my blog reached its first birthday in August 2005, I got to thinking about how dramatically the library and the classroom have changed for so many of us in the last couple of years.

Then I got to thinking about how incredibly dramatic the change has been since I first graduated library school in 1976 ,and when I had to do that masters degree over again for my educational credential in 1988.

While I learned programming the first time around and personal computer applications the second time around, the current rate of change has altered the landscape so dramatically I would not today be able to survive with those ancient library school skills.

Clearly, the changes occurring between 1976 and 1988, when the PC and automation were becoming ubiquitous in libraries, had nothing on the changes we were to see in the last five, no the last 2 years!

Retooling was essential for me. It is essential for the survival of the profession. We cannot expect to assume a leadership role in information technology and instruction, we cannot claim any credibility with students, faculty, or administrators if we do not recognize and thoughtfully exploit the information and communication paradigm shifts of the past two years.

I attempted to chart the changes I've observed to help plan for the future.

 I invite you all to help me refine this chart.

How life has changed since I left library school. How should practice respond and change?