On what information do I base my decisions about using technology in the writing program?  To whom do I listen, when, and how? How do I decide between national recommendations and local exigencies, when they conflict?

Global:

• Cutting edge technology
• "Best Practices" in the discipline, as defined in published research in the field
• Reputation of the program
• Using the program as a site for research: presenting and publishing about the program

Local:

• Student issues: "It's about the students" (listen to students and do no harm)
• Faculty and TA concerns about technology
• time
• workload
• learning curve
• comfort level
• technology glitches

• Administrative pressures
• consistency among sections
• student satisfaction
• academic preparation
• technology literacy
• funding
• faculty development
• assessment

Two example scenarios:

1. Using the Internet in technical communications classes at a small state tech university in 1992
2. Bargaining for computer labs by guaranteeing tech literacy at a large public university in 1990

Overall principle: Listen to stakeholders before implementing change.  Get feedback from affected parties, and, when consensus is impossible, use an informed and representative committee (ours is the first-year composition committee) to carefully weigh options and make decisions.