Reflections on Cyberspace as the New "Wired World of Education"

Developments in Information Technologies (ITs) like the Internet have transformed information exchange. Moreover, since information exchange and analysis are key aspects of the learning experience, these developments have had an important impact on education. Within this context, the important question concerns the sort of educational relationships that exist (or fail to exist) when information exchanges and analyses are structured by the use of ITs such as the Internet. In this paper we use ideas from writers not normally linked to discussions about IT use in education, Levinas and Aristotle, to argue that there are important kinds of relationships that, ideally, emerge within face-to-face education settings but not, typically, within education entirely mediated by the use of ITs. Further, we will argue that the importance of the relationships that emerge within face-to-face educational settings suggest that, short of the appropriate adoption and use of enhancements potentially offered by increased bandwidth such as three-dimensional learning environments or broadband videoconferencing, Internet-based education should supplement, but not supplant face-to-face education.