Preparing students for information organizations in the twenty-first century - Web-based management and practice of field experience

The information organizations in which our students will work in the early twenty-first century must be among those most adaptable to the rapid pace o f change in a networked society. Contemporary organization theory predicts that communication will move through a web of collaborative relationships i n these flexible, learning organizations. Often organizations will be "with out walls," operating in a global environment. Learning theory compatible w ith the digital milieu suggests that appropriate classrooms for the twenty- first century learning should parallel these organizations, reflecting thei r participative, open nature. A philosophical framework, drawn from organiz ation and learning theories, is ap plied to a case study of Web-based manag ement and practice of field experience, structured to meet the demands of t he new millennium. An examination of how Web-based field experience has bee n implemented at the Florida State University School of Information Studies , backed by examples from students' fieldwork experiences, demonstrates the relevance of this educational experience as preparation for twenty-first c entury information organizations.