From Tom Yager, who writes “Ahead of the Curve” for InfoWorld :

Technology workers who don’t see themselves as passionate, creative professionals, and who lack commitment to their work, will inevitably occupy the lower strata of the future job market. My new corollary to that is that all working people are consumers even on company time. We need to feel impressed and inspired by the tools and materials we’re given.

Words to live by.

I’m not sure I agree with the way Yager goes on to distinguish interfaces that exist for the computer’s benefit vs. those that exist for the user’s benefit, but that’s a thought for another post. For now, it’s enough to think that work in information technologies should be a vocation, that is, a calling, not just a job. This is a place where information technologies, teaching, and learning must meet. I’d also argue that it’s something a liberal arts university is uniquely suited to demonstrate, and to help students understand.

I’m also beginning to look to medicine for analogies with this work we do with teaching and learning technologies. There’s a great New Yorker piece from a couple of weeks ago I need to write about soon. Metrics, inspiration, creativity, ministry, assessment, accountability, synthesis, innovation. Can we make a meal out of all those ingredients?