The topic of College 2.0 is so intriguing and the implications so thought provoking I think the conversation could go on for years. There are so many avenues the topic can take. There are also so many degrees (no pun intended) of College 2.0. It's so thought provoking I am having difficulty organizing my thoughts around it.
Lets start with how College 2.0 might impact way a college traditionally operates. The format of education has not really changed for hundreds of years. A teacher stands in front of the class, instruction is given, homework assigned, etc... And this format takes place everywhere from the single room school house (by the way, I attended a two room school house when I was little) to the best universities in the world. Now College 2.0 comes along and all class material is on line. In fact, I don't even have to register at a university to look at the material. It's free for the taking. Entire courses and curriculums are now available that one can study from anywhere there's an internet connection. The implications go beyond evolutionary. What becomes of the college campus in the future? What becomes of the classroom in the future? I can envision a classroom with multiple screens on a wall, one screen for each student. I can envision standing in a much smaller room, perhaps not much bigger than my office, teaching to a class of 40 or 50 smiling faces on a screen. Lets take attendance. Attendance would be simple. If you are not logged on and your face not appearing on your screen you are not there. I can also envision not having a class at all. I can see a time where the professor just prepares a lecture for "prodution", much like an evening news cast.
How might this all work though? I can actually see a huge future demand for Instructional Designers and Graphic Designers because these individuals will become critical in the design of College 2.0 courses. If educational material is all free, how does the university make money? I suppose one possibility would be, if you want an actual, legitimate degree you would have to denmonstrate that you have satisfactory completed all the course materials, and then come up with $100K or so to pay for your diploma. But would this occur after the fact? I guess another question to contemplate would be, what becomes the Value of a formal diploma other than proof I satisfactorily completed all the materials?
Next Topic on College 2.0; Dealing with Rising Costs of Education and How Colege 2.0 Might Be the Answer
You pose some interesting questions here. The future of education could definitely change with College 2.0, I can't imagine earning a free education. It would be amazing, I'd love a life free of student loans! I would think that somewhere along the lines some fees would have to be charged. I could see a college diploma becoming something similar to earning a teaching certificate. I paid $100 per certification exam. So it's possible that in the future we could see students being required to take paid final exams to prove their mastery in a class. That's assuming that the class itself didn't cost anything. I have a hard time believing that a course and it's materials would be free, it makes me wonder how the teacher is earning a living? I could envision a teacher more like an author in College 2.0. Where the teacher would publish and sell their coursework for students to complete. I look forward to reading more about College 2.0 and your insights on it.
ReplyDeleteYou have brought up very valid points about college 2.0. Technology is always changing and I agree I would not be surprised if we start having virtual classes through Skype or any other video chatting applications. Especially since you can video chat from your cell phones now, you can be anywhere listening to the teacher lecture. I look forward to reading your next blog topic about dealing with rising costs of education because that is an issue for me and for anyone else who does not have a scholarship/assistantship to pay for school.
ReplyDeleteI think the emergence of college 2.0 will allow more people have access to high education, no matter where they are, and who they are, and this would greatly inprove the education equity!
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