Comments on: Contemplating the Demise of the University http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/ Exploring the sociological imagination in the digital era. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 14:36:35 +0000 hourly 1 By: Joshua L. http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-5681 Joshua L. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 04:14:45 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-5681 Though I completely agree that the growing trend of internet courses for campuses will continue to rise over the next few years, I find it hard to believe that a university itself will allow to be completely replaced by technology. Faculty itself is a valuable asset to a student. One that is often overlooked, however I bet an successful college graduate can remember a professor that really pushed them through and put them on a career track. I just think the internet allows for a diversified spectrum of student preferences and that's the point; it's another option, not a replacement in the future. Though I completely agree that the growing trend of internet courses for campuses will continue to rise over the next few years, I find it hard to believe that a university itself will allow to be completely replaced by technology. Faculty itself is a valuable asset to a student. One that is often overlooked, however I bet an successful college graduate can remember a professor that really pushed them through and put them on a career track.

I just think the internet allows for a diversified spectrum of student preferences and that’s the point; it’s another option, not a replacement in the future.

]]> By: Charles Darwin http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-5648 Charles Darwin Fri, 18 Dec 2009 02:16:24 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-5648 yes.. come to claas no... cannot come to class. Admit... No Admit. come to class or cannot come to class. All this time, money, energy is about who can, cannot attend. MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, Yale: free courses for a free world. Billions, billions billions billions of people can see lectrue. yes.. come to claas

no… cannot come to class.

Admit…

No Admit.

come to class or cannot come to class.

All this time, money, energy is about who can, cannot attend.

MIT, Berkeley, Stanford, Yale: free courses for a free world.

Billions, billions billions billions of people can see lectrue.

]]> By: Brian http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-5264 Brian Tue, 07 Jul 2009 11:09:47 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-5264 The demise of higher education can't come soon enough, and it isn't predicated upon students' intrinsic motivation. Rather, this culture has been wildly oversold on the idea that individuals *must* have college degrees or their lives will prove worthless and they won;t be able to find meaningful, engaging employment. Well, I think our citizenry is waking up to this myth. Once folks understand that the current higher education--and its outrageous costs--are unsustainable, and that individuals can derive much satisfaction in the skilled trades, I *hope* and *pray* that the higher ed. bubble (the next big bubble, I think) bursts. Enough is enough . . . The demise of higher education can’t come soon enough, and it isn’t predicated upon students’ intrinsic motivation. Rather, this culture has been wildly oversold on the idea that individuals *must* have college degrees or their lives will prove worthless and they won;t be able to find meaningful, engaging employment.

Well, I think our citizenry is waking up to this myth. Once folks understand that the current higher education–and its outrageous costs–are unsustainable, and that individuals can derive much satisfaction in the skilled trades, I *hope* and *pray* that the higher ed. bubble (the next big bubble, I think) bursts. Enough is enough . . .

]]> By: JP http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-4603 JP Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:27:08 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-4603 I am a graduate student in international relations at a branch of an American university overseas. I have recently been taking a class in International Political Economy, and I supplement my lectures with a podcast I found of an identical course at Middlebury College. The Middlebury professor is in my opinion, a much better and clearer teacher (and does not veer into unsolicited polemics on the current administration like my own professor). Without the podcast, I would be scrambling. Perhaps being a grad student makes me more motivated than an undergrad to do outside work. I am a graduate student in international relations at a branch of an American university overseas. I have recently been taking a class in International Political Economy, and I supplement my lectures with a podcast I found of an identical course at Middlebury College. The Middlebury professor is in my opinion, a much better and clearer teacher (and does not veer into unsolicited polemics on the current administration like my own professor). Without the podcast, I would be scrambling.

Perhaps being a grad student makes me more motivated than an undergrad to do outside work.

]]> By: AL http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-4477 AL Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:25:08 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-4477 Maybe I'm too cynical, but I agree that Tapscott seems to overestimate the learning motivation of students. For many years, anyone (with the money to do so) has been able to purchase textbooks written by leading scholars in the field and read those books on their own. While some people may have certainly "self-taught" themselves in this way, I would guess that relatively few people have done so. Why? As you say, without the incentives of grades, deadlines for assigned coursework, and the degree credential, the motivation to learn just for the sake of learning is generally not there. Maybe I’m too cynical, but I agree that Tapscott seems to overestimate the learning motivation of students. For many years, anyone (with the money to do so) has been able to purchase textbooks written by leading scholars in the field and read those books on their own. While some people may have certainly “self-taught” themselves in this way, I would guess that relatively few people have done so. Why? As you say, without the incentives of grades, deadlines for assigned coursework, and the degree credential, the motivation to learn just for the sake of learning is generally not there.

]]> By: is the brick and mortar college obsolete? – http://thesocietypages.org/contech/2009/06/05/contemplating-the-demise-of-the-university/comment-page-1/#comment-4476 is the brick and mortar college obsolete? – Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:41:19 +0000 http://thesocietypages.org/contech/?p=244#comment-4476 [...] via Contech » Contemplating the Demise of the University. [...] [...] via Contech » Contemplating the Demise of the University. [...]

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