Technology is a wonderful thing, and in our lifetime technological advances have altered the way people live their lives. E-mail, iPods and word processing touch the average college student on a daily basis. Can any student imagine writing a paper without spell check or checking out a book without the online library catalog? The card catalog and typewriters are as foreign as the Model T and the phonograph to most of the student body, and so we often forget that most of our professors grew up and spent most of their lives without the benefit of the Internet or the personal computer.

More dramatically, the College was founded before electricity, but the technological aptitude of a dynamic institution evolves much more easily than that of any individual. Although the College has always done a commendable job of adapting to new technologies (with the possible exception of LDs), some professors have been left behind and some student needs have been underestimated.

When we think of the fruits of technology, many of us picture sleek cell phones and new video gaming consoles. But too often, we take for granted the ways in which technology improves our educations. To that end, the most important work the Information Technology Department (IT) does is the fusion of teaching and technology. Some ways in which this relationship could be improved are as simple as longer hours for the Seeley Mudd computer center, but, more importantly, the College must work to narrow the technological gap between students and professors which inhibits the work of education on campus.

Admittedly, professors who generally did not grow up using computers face a significant disadvantage compared to the vast majority of students who have developed a nearly intuitive relationship with technology since childhood. Still, the College's faculty cannot be allowed to avoid the technological tools of the trade that can be so educationally beneficial. Simple devices like e-mail cannot be optional, and more advanced options should be available, encouraged and explained to the entire faculty. For example, the College will soon introduce a classroom equipped with a SMARTboard. According to the company's Web site, this impressive piece of equipment combines "the simplicity of a whiteboard with the power of a computer." These interactive whiteboards are an illustration of how technology can enhance a lecture, but these investments will only prove fruitful if professors are willing to take the leap.

We can appreciate the apprehension many professors may feel when dealing with new tools to facilitate their instruction, but we are also confident that the College's faculty is capable of mastering the limited proficiency necessary to introduce new methods into their teaching styles. Furthermore, the College-through IT-must provide the necessary support to help professors feel comfortable and get up to speed on the amazing opportunities to supplement the traditional style of teaching.