Ericast 206 - In Loco Parentis

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Last week at a local higher-ed IT conference I gave a presentation entitled "In Loco Parentis: Our Children are Growing Up!"

As cloud-based vendors become more popular and Google can answer almost any question, IT has moved from “controlling” our clients to “guiding” them. This session proposes that a rich, respectful metaphor for technology support is… parenting.  Yes, parenting.  Some of your clients still need to be told to eat their peas and wash behind their ears, but many are precariously driving for the first time or standing awkwardly in the gym corner at the school dance.  Some have turned away from you to sow their wild technology oats, while others have settled down and are bringing you the joy of technology grandchildren.  All of them are growing and maturing; how do we mature along with them, and grow into a new kind of relationship different from (and even better than!) the past?

Want to hear it?  Sure, you do!  And here it is.  This week's podcast is a recording of that presentation as it was given live on Friday, January 18, 2013.

Questions? Comments? Related thoughts?  Call the listener feedback line at 206-339-3742 (a.k.a. 206-339-ERIC) and let me know what you think!