College as We Know It: Days Are Numbered
This is Alex Tabarrok at Marginal Revolution:
In 2003, I argued that professors were becoming obsolete, giving a 10 to 20 year time for a big move to online education. Later, I pointed out that the market was moving towards superstar teachers, who teach hundreds at a time or even thousands online. Today, we have the Khan Academy, a huge increase in online education, electronic textbooks and peer grading systems and highly successful superstar teachers with Michael Sandel and his popular course Justice, serving as example number one….
For superstars and strong researchers, life in the ivory tower remains good. But for most teachers the cushy life is gone; tenure is just a dream for a majority of university teachers, salaries are low and teaching requirements have risen.
That’s worrisome.
It used to be that online education was considered substandard. Now even the brick and mortar universities with ivory towers are cashing in on it. I have friends who teach online classes at universities. One is an assistant professor at a large state school. She doesn’t even have to go into the office on the university campus. All of what she does can be done from home. Even the nursing school has a huge online program.
This is very interesting. I also wonder why it hasn’t happened sooner.
Two years ago I spoke at a conference held at a northeastern university. Close to 100 academics and (mostly liberal) policy analysts participated, many of which who worked at Ivy League schools or had graduated from elite, northeastern universities.
Someone from Harvard explained how a graduate from the University of Phoenix had recently applied for a summer workshop program typically reserved for high achievers. The academics at my table rolled their eyes in sympathetic disbelief as the program coordinator explained how of course they rejected the applicant. The attitude of the academics at my table was that the University of Phoenix graduate didn’t know his place in the academic universe and was being presumptuous for even applying. I interjected that online education is the wave of the future whether they like it or not it’s likely to grow. The academics begrudgingly agreed with me but began lamenting all that would be lost when education no longer involves congregating on a leafy campus with Ivy-covered, marble buildings (emphasis mine), interchanging knowledge and experiences with other people. I can see their point. But I also realize that not everyone has the opportunity to attend Harvard. Neither can many people afford to disrupt their lives for four years while attending college far from home and job. The prevailing attitude of the academics I spoke to was a very elitist mentality when you get down to it.
Online education is an interesting idea but in my experience it is not as effective as in-person education.
Devon: I’ve encountered this problem in more informal and conversational settings. When I bring up the education bubble and the need for reform in higher education so it’s not so “one-size-fits-all,” and thus more comprably supplies the economy with a greater variety of skills, my suggestions seem to be ignored. Those who have been part of the elite education system have trouble identifying education as a matter of practicality for those who do not need or want to attend the Ivy League.
I agree 100% with Devon. I’ll add this:
Websites like Academic Earth democratize the education process. If you’re smart, you can watch all of the lectures and even complete the assignments. There is no need to be well-connected or come from money. You have the potential to have a completely merit-based system.
I’ve told many of my professors that internet learning is the future, but most resist the idea. Although they mumble about “the college experience,” I think there’s a deeper reason: having everyone’s lecture on the internet allows the free market to flush out bad teachers. (Academic Earth has a rating system whereby viewers can grade their professors. Imagine this on a national scale!!)
Education in general is a tremendous drain on resources. The more we can streamline the process, the better off we’ll be.
I just found this link online: http://www.connectionsacademy.com/texas-houston-school/home.aspx
Looks like an interesting alternative to public school classrooms.