Avoid getting hooked on the concept of the virtual MOOC University

In this article about grading the MOOC university A J Jacobs makes the mistake of following the hype of the MOOC providers that claim this is the future of higher ed as we know it. This misses the point that MOOCs are a different, alternative paradigm that will evolve to become the way to acquire the skills and competencies needed for paid work, self employment and day-to-day living in general.

Even AJ acknowledges:

MOOCs provided me with the thrill of relatively painless self-improvement and an easy introduction to heady topics

Starting from a suitably early age why would a person ever need hugely expensive, increasingly overrated higher ed which less than 1% of the world's population can afford?

5 year technology outlook for Australian Higher Ed

The Technology Outlook for Australian Tertiary Education 2013-2018 has just been published without many surprises. The context with previous reports and research provides a look at trends:

The 1-year horizon is predictable with the vague social media topic being unhelpfully broad. I had already predicted that 3D printing would move to a closer horizon as its influence is growing at a great rate. It is good to see virtual and remote labs coming into the 5-year horizon but I had introduced virtual IT teaching labs to Bond in 2008, exactly 5 years ago.

As always the report makes good reading.

Famous Last Words on MOOCs Perhaps

Time Magazine has given MOOCs credence today in a lengthy, provocatively named article entitled ‘College Is Dead. Long Live College!’ by Amanda Ripley. On the fourth web page we find a quote from the University of Phoenix but one that is typical of many senior managers in higher education today:

Still, it will be a long time before companies besides high-tech start-ups trust anything other than a traditional degree. That’s why hundreds of thousands of people a year enroll in the University of Phoenix, which most students attend online. Says University of Phoenix spokesman Ryan Rauzon: “They need a degree, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon.”

I wonder whether these are yet another example of famous last words.

MOOCs stir a VC to reflect

I am very pleased to see that slumbering giant Australian Higher Education react against the MOOC tidal wave. In a reflective post entitled 'MOOCs : neither a death of a university nor a panacea for learning' Jane Den Hollander the VC of Deakin University gives a balanced view of the disruptive effects MOOCs will inevitably bring.

Here the recognition of the threat:

Those in higher education would be foolish to ignore it [MOOCs] even though outcomes are not clear and many uncertainties exist.

Here the recognition of the opportunity:

MOOCs, and all their iterations, are an opportunity to re-imagine how we can deliver excellent learning outcomes in new, more accessible and engaging ways, fit for 21st century learners and graduates.

But where is the hint of an immediate action plan? Surely a MOOC Disruption Committee should be formed and start meeting within the month, Otherwise the MOOC tidal wave will sweep in and likely decimate the institution.

The Seepage of Credibility from Higher Education

The credibility of the learning achieved in higher ed will continue, but many are questioning seriously whether a swathe of other means can achieve the same ends at much, much lower economic cost. In his post from Time Magazine Michael Ellsberg distinguishes the concepts of learning versus the credibility of having learned.

He poses the question of whether a higher ed degree can be replaced by:

• A track record of having started one or two successful businesses, even if they were small.
• Industry-related blogs with well-written, lively, detailed posts, which receive many comments and tweets/likes/shares per post.
• An impressive About page on a well-designed personal website
• Large, legitimate, real followings on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and other social media networks.

Thus the sources of credibility move out of the monopoly enjoyed by higher ed. I agree with Michael though that the law, medicine and engineering professions, for example, will be slow to allow non-higher ed credibility sources to be recognised.

Nevertheless, in most other walks of life you can build a business that demonstrates your credibility. Good luck.