Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Ideas for Designing An Affordable New Educational Institution

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

This white paper (32 page PDF) outlines a design exercise to "to imagine a new institution that delivers high quality, affordable bachelor's-level education in fields such as computer science and business, and, eventually, in engineering." It's interesting how the project has constrained itself to thinking of a traditional institution right from the outset. "This white paper is not intended as a rethinking of higher education." Their ideas? For one, "reproportion research and teaching... teaching should be the 80 percent focus." Another: "use, where appropriate, of online courses
licensed from other institutions." More: "rethinking the degree requirement as a series of modular 'concentrations.'" Still more: "teaching should be redefined to be the mentoring expert" and "a pedagogical focus on grit and resilience." More still: remove the current divide between tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty. Also: co-op programs. There's more, but you get the idea: it's a grab bag of ideas bereft of any sense of imagination or purpose.

Today: 9 Total: 104 [Direct link] [Share]


Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

Copyright 2024
Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 5:36 p.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.

Force:yes