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Education Secretary Arne Duncan calls for urgency on college costs [Lewin]

On 11/30/2011, in business side of he, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, funding / grants, future of higher education, game-changing environment, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, United States, by Daniel Christian

Official calls for urgency on college costs— from the New York Times by Tamar Lewin

Excerpts:

As Occupy movement protests helped push spiraling college costs into the national spotlight, Education Secretary Arne Duncan urged higher-education officials Tuesday to “think more creatively — and with much greater urgency” about ways to contain costs and reduce student debt.

…

“Three in four Americans now say that college is too expensive for most people to afford,” Mr. Duncan said. “That belief is even stronger among young adults — three-fourths of whom believe that graduates today have more debt than they can manage.”

Also see:

Addendum later on 11/30/11:

.

(Official Department of Education Photo by Joshua Hoover)

“My chief message today is a sobering one,” said Secretary Duncan yesterday at the annual Federal Student Aid conference in Las Vegas, Nev. “I want to ask you, and the entire higher education community, to look ahead and start thinking more creatively—and with much greater urgency—about how to contain the spiraling costs of college and reduce the burden of student debt on our nation’s students.”

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From DSC: An important note to publishers of academic/educational materials!

On 11/18/2011, in CMS/LMS, Daniel S. Christian, education technology, higher education, innovation, instructional design, new business models, online media, publishing, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, by Daniel Christian

From Daniel Christian -- November 2011 -- An important note to publishers of academic/educational materials!

 

From DSC:
We really need a much more granular approach — like an iTunes for academic content.

 

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Cloud Learning as Universal Primary Education [Arina]

On 11/15/2011, in assessment, career development, change, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital learning, disruption, education reform, global / globalization, higher education, innovation, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, mobile learning, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, society, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Cloud Learning as Universal Primary Education — from Teemu Arina

Excerpts:

The internet is lowering the transaction costs of learning. This leads to a situation where learning happens more and more in the open markets, in a distributed and decentralized manner. It is obvious that the primary interface will be based on mobile, cloud-based devices. Some principles…

…

There are effectively three levels of certification: 1st hand, 2nd hand and 3rd hand certification.

  • 1st hand certification is what you say you know.
    In the old world you would describe your skills in a resume and leave it to the employer to evaluate if that holds true. In the new world you can make your work and learning processes visible as it happens, demonstrating progress and increasing the believability of your 1st hand descriptions. A simple blog (a log of thoughts) makes reflection visible  and demonstrates the evolution and iteration of thinking as it happens.
  • 2nd hand certification is what others say about you.
    In the old world you would describe your references in a resume and leave it to the employer to call these references to evaluate if these people really value your work and learning. In the new world people accumulate links, likes and comments to the resources you produce on social networks. A Klout score on social media or a personal stock price based on social media activity on EmpireAvenue demonstrate your social capital through a simple metric. The question is, are you making an impact with your progress, enabling other people to build on top of your work through reflection and co-creation, or are you effectively invisible to others?
  • 3rd hand certification is what an authority says about you.
    In the old world you would get a certificate on hand to add in your resume that you have demonstrated the ability to pass a specific rat test (a school). This doesn’t necessarily mean you have mastered all the topics involved, but it demonstrates that you have been capable of passing such tests under the supervision of an authority. In the new world a single test in isolation is not enough but your ability to solve problems in connection with others.
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Michigan universities, state lawmakers look for ways to bring down price of higher education [Knake]

On 11/14/2011, in cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, game-changing environment, higher education, legislatures / government / legal, Michigan, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, universities, by Daniel Christian

Michigan universities, state lawmakers look for ways to bring down price of higher education — from mlive.com by Lindsay Knake | The Saginaw News

Also:

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Item ultimately impacting “learning from the living room”: Connected TVs to outsell games consoles for first time this year [Kastelein]

On 11/09/2011, in 21st century, A/V -- audio/visual, Daniel S. Christian, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, social learning / networks, social media, television, trends, by Daniel Christian

Connected TVs to outsell games consoles for first time this year — from appmarket.tv by Richard Kastelein

 

Also see:

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If not now, when? [Sannier] Relates to the question “Will higher ed respond and stay relevant?” [DSC]

On 11/09/2011, in budgets, business side of he, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, education technology, elearning, emerging technologies, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, IT in HE, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, reinvent, society, staying relevant, by Daniel Christian

If not now, when? –– from Educause ReviewMagazine  by Adrian Sannier
Adrian Sannier is Digital Strategist and Senior Vice President of Product at Pearson eCollege and is Professor of Computing Studies at Arizona State University, where he was also the University Technology Officer prior to joining Pearson eCollege.

Excerpt:

Strong signs are indicating that higher education is finally on the verge of a long-awaited digital shift. Given that experts have been prophesying such a shift for more than forty years, with little if any real change, it’s reasonable to approach such a statement with healthy skepticism. Various factors—some cultural, some technological—have indeed retarded progress along this path to the future. Nevertheless, the unprecedented challenges facing the educational system, combined with higher education’s cultural success at solving daunting challenges through the widespread application of information technology, have created the conditions for rapid change. In the coming months, we will see major shifts in the role that technology plays in the creation, distribution, consumption, and improvement of learning experiences. And education will never be the same.

…

Beyond Textbooks, Beyond Bookstores, Beyond Learning Management Systems, Beyond School—the changes introduced by technology have already begun. The digital shift is upon us. If other industries and other fields are any guide, once the dominos begin to fall, progress will be swift and irreversible.

I, for one, can’t wait to be a part of it. If not now, when?

 

From DSC:
Readers of this blog will not be surprised at what I’m about to say…

Higher ed, if we are wise, will quickly wake up and heed the disruptive changes that have already occurred within other industries (i.e. those caused by a variety of technologies).  The following quote is especially relevant for those of us in higher education, because the conversation is no longer being controlled by those within the world of higher education. 

“For the first time, the tools to drive change and improve learning lie beyond the scope and the control of the academy, in the community which surrounds it. So, for the first time in our history, colleges and universities do not control either the conversation or the drive to innovate. As a consequence, also for the first time, if they stand still, they will be left behind, bobbing in the wake of rapid change.” — HEMG

The writing on the wall is coming into a bolder/stronger/clearer view:  Higher ed needs to respond to society’s needs and to its own customers…otherwise, it will become irrelevant. Much of this is due to what things often come down to — money.

The cost of education is one of the most potent forces acting as a catalyst to these changes — and the tidal waves of technological change will finish the job.


Staying Relevant

 


…and more forcefully illustrated:

 

From Daniel S. Christian

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Thinking about innovation in higher education [Bates]

On 10/28/2011, in budgets, business side of he, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, future of higher education, higher education, innovation, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, by Daniel Christian

Thinking about innovation in higher education — from Tony Bates

Excerpt:

This article by Peter Stokes, an executive vice-president at Eduventures, has some interesting ideas about how to promote real innovation in the higher education system. In principle, he’s suggesting US Federal funding for a conventional public institution to set up a parallel organization to test alternative ways of organizing, delivering and assessing teaching and learning, but within the Federal regulatory environment to stop diploma mills benefiting from the funding.

Also see:

 

Addendums later on 10/28/11:

  • Where’s the Innovation: Part 1 (Dr. Peter Smith)
    In my next three blogs, I will discuss, with examples, the obstacles faced by existing institutions when they try to innovate, where innovation has already begun and where innovation will come from in the future.
    …
    What makes this moment in time so compelling is that, just as we see the need for a vastly better educated citizenry, the tools to do just that have been revolutionized by the web. For the first time, the tools to drive change and improve learning lie beyond the scope and the control of the academy, in the community which surrounds it. So, for the first time in our history, colleges and universities do not control either the conversation or the drive to innovate. As a consequence, also for the first time, if they stand still, they will be left behind, bobbing in the wake of rapid change (emphasis DSC).
  • Where will innovation begin? — from the Chronicle by Jeff Selingo
    If there was any question that the current model for the vast majority of colleges is not sustainable for much longer, two pieces of news this past week should give the remaining skeptics yet more evidence (emphasis DSC).
    .
    First was the news from a survey of economists that Americans’ incomes, which have dropped some 7 percent since 2000, aren’t expected to even recover those losses until 2021. What’s more, a third of the respondents to the survey said today’s college grads would fare worse than their parents’ generation.
    .
    Then earlier this week we saw news reports of a previously published study on household debt by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, which predicted that the total amount of student-loan debt would hit $1-trillion before the end of the year.

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College Affordability & Transparency Center

On 10/28/2011, in budgets, business side of he, colleges, community colleges, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, student-related, universities, by Daniel Christian

College Affordability & Transparency Center

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What if this functionality were unleashed on mobile learning applications?

On 10/27/2011, in Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital video, ideas, mobile learning, mobile technologies, by Daniel Christian

http://new.livestream.com/pages/features

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New College Board Trends Reports Price of College Continues to Rise Nationally, with Dramatic Differences in Pricing Policies from State to State [collegeboard.org]

On 10/26/2011, in budgets, business side of he, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, student-related, United States, by Daniel Christian

New College Board Trends Reports Price of College Continues to Rise Nationally, with Dramatic Differences in Pricing Policies from State to State — from collegeboard.org
Increases in federal tax credits, combined with growth in grant aid, help some students cover rising expenses
10/25/2011

Key Tuition and Fee Findings:

  • Published in-state tuition and fees at public four-year institutions average $8,244 in 2011-12, $631 (8.3 percent) higher than in 2010-11. Average total charges, including tuition and fees and room and board, are $17,131, up 6.0 percent.
  • Published out-of-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities average $20,770, $1,122 (5.7 percent) higher than in 2010-11. Average total charges are $29,657, up 5.2 percent.
  • Published in-state tuition and fees at public two-year colleges average $2,963, $236 (8.7 percent) higher than in 2010-11.
  • Published tuition and fees at private nonprofit four-year colleges and universities average $28,500 in 2011-12, $1,235 (4.5 percent) higher than in 2010-11. Average total charges, including tuition and fees and room and board, are $38,589, up 4.4 percent.
  • Published tuition and fees at for-profit institutions average an estimated $14,487 in 2011-12, 3.2 percent higher than in 2010-11.
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Some updates on items that will ultimately impact “learning from the living room”

On 10/25/2011, in 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, Apple, convergence, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, innovation, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, television, transmedia, trends, vendors, by Daniel Christian

Apple plans to revolutionize your living room next, just as Steve Jobs wanted — from readwriteweb.com by John Paul Titlow

Excerpt:

apple-tv-set.jpg“I finally cracked it,” Steve Jobs told his biographer Walter Isaacson just months before his death. He was referring to the design and functionality of television, something Jobs had long wanted his company to reimagine.

In the official biography of the late Apple founder that came out today, one of the last topics discussed before Isaacson touches on Jobs’ summer 2011 resignation is how he had hoped to revolutionize the television set.

 

From DSC:
Interesting thing about those who innovate…sometimes, others come to them in the hopes that the innovative company will create an X, Y, or Z product line.  Jobs and Ives, by being known as two of the top heads of an innovative company, had an army of people contributing ideas to Apple (and many of them doing so freely through the years). 

So I also give credit to those encouraging Apple to take certain approaches, for submitting potential ideas and suggestions, and for those employees/contractors/suppliers who are working at (or on behalf of) Apple who are working hard to bring those ideas/visions to fruition (Jeff Robbin comes to mind).  Jobs most likely didn’t come to cracking this thing on his own.

Seven ways an integrated Apple TV could change everything — from forbes.com by Louis Bedigian

Sony expects “fight for the living room” — from warc.com

Excerpt:

TOKYO: Sony, the electronics group, believes it is in a “fight for the living room” not only with traditional rivals like Samsung and LG, but also with new players in the TV arena, such as Apple and Google.

 PlayJam Closes Round A Financing for $5 million from Adobe, GameStop and Endeavour for Connected TV Games — from http://appmarket.tv by Richard Kastelein

One More Thing….Does Jobs Have a Final Trick Up His Sleeve? — from http://digitallivingroom.com

Apple Could Release TV Set in 2012 [REPORT] — from Mashable.com by Lauren Indvik

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Higher education bubble in America

On 10/20/2011, in budgets, business side of he, change, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, reinvent, strategy, student-related, surviving, trends, by Daniel Christian
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Khan Academy expands to Art History, Sal Khan no longer its only faculty member [Watters]

On 10/20/2011, in art, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, game-changing environment, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, online learning, by Daniel Christian

Khan Academy expands to Art History, Sal Khan no longer its only faculty member — from hackeducation.com by Audrey Watters

 

Also see:

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Student loans outstanding will exceed $1 trillion this year [Cauchon]

On 10/19/2011, in budgets, change, changing business models, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, reinvent, staying relevant, student-related, United States, by Daniel Christian

Student loans outstanding will exceed $1 trillion this year — from USAToday.com by Cauchon

Excerpts:

Students and workers seeking retraining are borrowing extraordinary amounts of money through federal loan programs, potentially putting a huge burden on the backs of young people looking for jobs and trying to start careers.

The amount of student loans taken out last year crossed the $100 billion mark for the first time and total loans outstanding will exceed $1 trillion for the first time this year (emphasis DSC).  Americans now owe more on student loans than on credit cards, reports the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

…

Students are borrowing twice what they did a decade ago after adjusting for inflation, the College Board reports.

…

“It’s going to create a generation of wage slavery,” says Nick Pardini, a Villanova University graduate student in finance (emphasis DSC) who has warned on a blog for investors that student loans are the next credit bubble — with borrowers, rather than lenders, as the losers.

 

From DSC:
Again, this speaks for the need for higher education to work hard on reinventing ourselves — innovating and thinking creatively to come up with significantly lower cost alternatives in offering a quality education to the youth of today. 

 

 

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What if this were about education, not entertainment?

On 10/18/2011, in convergence, Daniel S. Christian, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, mirroring and/or multiple devices, social learning / networks, social media, transmedia, trends, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

U-verse TV goes social with new apps to interact with what you’re watching, while you’re watching — from appmarket.tv by Richard Kastelein

Excerpt:

The way viewers watch TV today has become a multi-screen, multi-tasking experience. According to Nielsen, nearly 30 percent of TV viewers looked up info related to a TV program while they were watching it. AT&T U-verse TV customers now have new and better ways to bring together their favorite social apps on their smartphone or tablet with what they’re watching on TV.

“Customers want their TV viewing experience to be social, without distracting from the TV show on their TV screen, and they want their choice of apps from their smartphone or tablet to work seamlessly with their TV and enhance their favorite TV shows,” said Jeff Weber, vice president of video services, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. “These apps allow you to interact and share details about the shows you’re watching in simple and engaging ways. And you can do that on the devices that are in your hands or right next to you on the couch.”

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