Comments on: Just what might it take to reform higher education?

By: Steve Vodhanel

Steve Vodhanel — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:37:57 +0000

What might it take to reform higher education? When higher education realizes there are people like me, after spending $120,000 and can’t BUY A JOB IN CALIFORNIA (before or after the new ruined economy), are telling people it’s not worth it.

Thank you for ‘listening.’

Steve

By: Mike Offerman

Mike Offerman — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:04:47 +0000

Thanks John and Sooner 66 for weighing in.

Mike

By: John M. Landry

John M. Landry — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:23:13 +0000

As an online learner (for the last five years) as well as an online professor (also for the last five years) I have seen some reform already.

I think that the direction online learning is headed is appropriate and the only issue that I would raise is that online learning must stay grounded in teaching real world skills to address real workld needs.

By: sooner66

sooner66 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 17:41:58 +0000

One form of “disruption” is already happening. The private universities are taking a more prominent role in educating adults and many adults with one, two, or even three degrees from “traditional” universities are turning to these universities for their education. In traditional universities, students are the focus – after tenure and whatever the professor thinks is important. In a private university, focus is on the student…yes some private universities have not been the best stewards of federal funds but one doesn’t have to look far to see the same thing has happened in those old traditional universities.

Us old folks have proven our ability to learn in a traditional setting. We have money, we want more, and we will get it. We will find an educational institution willing to change and serve. At some point if traditionals don’t decide to change, private university doctoral degrees will outnumber other degrees by sheer force of number. Then what will you do with us?

Go Sooners…