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Student debt hits the middle-aged [Mitchell]

On 07/18/2012, in budgets, cost of getting a degree, higher education, lifelong learning, student-related, United States, by Daniel Christian

Student debt hits the middle-aged –– from the NYT by Josh Mitchell

Excerpt:

Student debt is rising sharply among all age groups, but middle-aged Americans appear to be struggling the most with payments, according to new data released Tuesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The delinquency rate—or the percentage of debt on which no payment has been made for 90 days—was 11.9% for debt held by borrowers aged 40 to 49 as of March. That compares with a rate of 8.7% for borrowers of all ages.

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Student debt hits the middle-aged

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Universities reshaping education on the Web [Lewin]

On 07/17/2012, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, future of higher education, game-changing environment, new business models, online learning, United States, universities, web-based collaboration, by Daniel Christian

From the New York Times -- Universities Reshaping Education on the Web - July 17, 2012

 

Excerpt:

As part of a seismic shift in online learning that is reshaping higher education, Coursera, a year-old company founded by two Stanford University computer scientists, will announce on Tuesday that a dozen major research universities are joining the venture. In the fall, Coursera will offer 100 or more free massive open online courses, or MOOCs, that are expected to draw millions of students and adult learners globally.

Also see:

 

From DSC:

Notice the equity investors here…players outside the normal/traditional higher ed landscape continue to enter. Control is an illusion. The conversation continues to move…

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Now THAT is true leadership — when people (who have a lot to lose) take serious risks to urge change. [Christian]

On 07/13/2012, in business side of he, change, changing business models, colleges, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, education reform, funding / grants, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, innovation, leadership, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, student-related, surviving, United States, universities, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

My hats off to Clayton Christensen and Henry Eyring!  My respect level just went up yet another notch for these two people.

Seeing as Clayton is a Professor at ***Harvard‘s*** Business School and Henry is an ***Administrator*** at Brigham Young University, their stance and recent letter to college and university trustees nationwide is a wonderful example of true leadership.   They risked many things by taking a stand and urging institutions of higher education to change. Their purpose is noble. Their message should be heeded.

From the website of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni: (emphasis by DSC)

Clayton Christensen: higher ed trustees “crucial as never before”
Harvard Business School professor (and bestselling author of The Innovator’s Dilemma) Clayton M. Christensen and Henry J. Eyring of Brigham Young University recently sent a letter to college and university trustees nationwide, recognizing a critical turning point for the future of higher education. “If you’ve been serving for more than a few years, you’ve seen a big change in the nature of trustees meetings,” the authors wrote. “Before the downturn of 2008, the agenda tended to focus on growth and on ways to fund it…. At some point, the bubble was bound to burst—or at least start to sag. Now that it has, your role becomes crucial as never before.” The letter urges trustees to demand innovative solutions to expand student access and improve academic quality at their institutions: “The innovators can do more than merely avoid disruption. They can help usher in a new age of higher education, one of unprecedented access and quality, a combined industrial revolution and renaissance.”

 

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Addendum on 7/16/12:

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10 best colleges for game-based learning [bestcollegesonline.com]

On 07/12/2012, in attention, colleges, digital learning, educational games / serious games, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, Michigan, United States, universities, by Daniel Christian

10 best colleges for game-based learning — from bestcollegesonline.com

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Excerpt:

If you were busy playing Call of Duty and you missed it, July 8 was Video Games Day. While most people’s experience with gaming involves mindless destruction or sports competition, educators have begun to see the value in the medium for helping students learn. While the research is still developing and some professors are still skeptical, these 10 colleges represent your best bets for learning while playing video and other games.

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What happens in our hearts has very practical, relevant implications in our daily lives

On 07/12/2012, in business, economics, ethics, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, morals/values, relationships, society, United States, by Daniel Christian

Below are but a few examples that focus on money — is it any wonder that Jesus talked so much about this very subject!?!
(Second only to talking about the kingdom of heaven.)

 

 

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Addendum on 7/23/12:

  • Wealthy hiding $21 trillion in tax havens, report says — from cbcnews
    ‘Debtor countries’ are actually wealthy when hidden money is accounted for
    Excerpt:
    The “super-rich elite” are hiding more than $21 trillion US in tax havens around the world, an amount roughly equal to the combined GDP of the United States and Japan, according to a new report.
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Hhhhhmmmmmm…reflections on “Apple’s revolutionary move into robotic manufacturing”

On 07/03/2012, in Apple, Asia, career development, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, engineering, robotics, STEAM-related, student-related, United States, workplace, by Daniel Christian

Apple’s revolutionary move into robotic manufacturing — from seekingalpha.com

Excerpt (emphasis DSC):

Apple (AAPL) is about to become one of the world’s biggest buyers of industrial robots. The company has announced a 78% increase in its non-retail capital expenditure to $7.1bn. Analysts in Asia and America believe that the size of Apple’s robot purchases could tie up the market for several years, making it difficult for companies such as Samsung (SSNLF.PK), Nokia (NOK) and HTC (HTCXF.PK) to compete.

Up to 700,000 people are employed in China, making products like the iPhone and iPad for Apple. It takes 141 steps to make an iPhone and each iPad will, over the course of the 5 days that it takes to build it, pass through 325 pairs of hands. Although labor only represents about 3% of the cost of building these products for Apple, the wages of Chinese factory workers have been rising at about 15% a year for much of the last decade. Problems managing this workforce have also harmed Apple’s image in a region that has become the most important engine of its growth.

Apple’s move represents an important step in the use of robots in manufacturing. Robots have long been used to build cars, but not so widely used in consumer electronics because these products are more difficult to make.

From DSC:
Some questions that come to my mind:

  • What happens to jobs in this new environment?
  • What needs to happen to people in this new workplace/environment?
  • How do we educate and train students to enter this ever-changing workplace?
  • How can we make STEM-related subjects more approachable and less “weeder” like?

 

 

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The Higher Education Bubble [Reynolds]

On 06/11/2012, in cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, disruption, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, staying relevant, strategy, surviving, United States, by Daniel Christian

The Higher Education Bubble

Book Description
Publication Date: June 26, 2012

America is facing a higher education bubble. Like the housing bubble, it is the product of cheap credit coupled with popular expectations of ever-increasing returns on investment, and as with housing prices, the cheap credit has caused college tuitions to vastly outpace inflation and family incomes. Now this bubble is bursting.

In this Broadside, Glenn Harlan Reynolds explains the causes and effects of this bubble and the steps colleges and universities must take to ensure their survival. Many graduates are unable to secure employment sufficient to pay off their loans, which are usually not dischargeable in bankruptcy. As students become less willing to incur debt for education, colleges and universities will have to adapt to a new world of cost pressures and declining public support.

About the Author
Glenn Harlan Reynolds is the Beauchamp Brogan Distinguished Professor of Law at the University of Tennessee. He writes for such publications as The Atlantic Monthly, Forbes, Popular Mechanics, The Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Examiner. He blogs at InstaPundit.com.

Also see:

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From DSC:
Note many of the relevant categories and tags I put this under — items I’ve been covering for years:

  • Walmart of Education
  • Cost of obtaining a degree
  • Reinventing oneself
  • Dangers of the status quo
  • Game-changing environment
  • Future of higher education
  • Leadership
  • Strategy
  • Staying relevant
  • Disruption
  • Surviving

 

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Couple items re: learning spaces

On 06/11/2012, in architecture, Australia, learning spaces, United States, by Daniel Christian

Yale University Art Gallery Renovation / Ennead Architects — from archdaily.com

The University of Wollongong AIIM / SKM – S2F — from archdaily.com

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Courtesy of SKM – S2F

 

 

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Internet Trends — Mary Meeker’s 5/30/12 presentation at D10 Conference

On 06/07/2012, in business, corporate / business world, economics, future, global / globalization, internet, trends, United States, by Daniel Christian

Internet Trends -- Mary Meeker's 5-30-12 presentation at D10 Conference

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An alarming update from the U.S. Debt Clock — with enormous ramifications for all of our futures

On 05/02/2012, in economics, funding / grants, global / globalization, legislatures / government / legal, United States, by Daniel Christian

http://www.usdebtclock.org/

 …and back from previous dates:

 

As of 11-20-11

 

usdebtclock.org

As of 8-24-11

 

Also see:

 

 

 

Addendum on 5/7/12:

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Barriers to Adoption of Online Learning Systems in U.S. Higher Education [Bacow, Bowen, Guthrie, Lack, Long]

On 05/01/2012, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning / Deep Learning / Algorithms, change, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, emerging technologies, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, learner profiles, online learning, organizational change, personalized/customized learning, United States, by Daniel Christian

Barriers to adoption of online learning systems in U.S. Higher Education - May 1, 2012

 

Excerpt from the preface:

Digital technology has already changed the way colleges and universities function, but no matter how significant those changes feel today, real transformation is just beginning. Every day, a new program in online learning is announced, and on the horizon is the promise of using new adaptive learning technologies —or what we have come to call Interactive Learning Online—to educate more students than ever before at lower cost and with similar or even better learning outcomes.

This Ithaka S+R report is the first in a series that will provide leaders in higher education insight into what has been learned from online learning efforts to date and new research to help them move forward with the development and deployment of more advanced systems in the future.

Many of the lessons in this report can readily be applied locally; that is, they will help leaders make sound decisions for their own institutions. We have also identified two critical issues that if addressed at a system-level, will lead to better outcomes for all: the need for open, shared data on student learning and performance tracked through interactive online learning systems, and the need for investment in the creation of sustainable and customizable platforms for delivering interactive online learning instruction. We hope this report will help to stimulate discussion and planning among leaders on these important topics.

 

Also see:

  • Tempering the Rise of the Machines— from insidehighered.com by Steve Kolowich
    Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
    The report, called “Barriers to Adoption of Online Learning Systems in U.S. Higher Education,” was co-written by Lawrence S. Bacow and William G. Bowen, the former presidents of Tufts and Princeton Universities, respectively, along with several Ithaka analysts. It was bankrolled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The report contained little advocacy one way or another; rather, the authors appeared to strive for a dispassionate analysis driven by a general sense that the rise of machine learning is inevitable and universities should be prepared. Their findings were based on interviews with senior administrators at 25 public and private, four-year and two-year colleges, including “deep dive” analyses at five of them.
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We can’t wait another year for a new ESEA [from ednetinsight.com by Mary Broderick]

On 04/13/2012, in change, dangers of the status quo, education reform, K-12 related, leadership, legislatures / government / legal, strategy, United States, vision/possibilities, by Daniel Christian

We can’t wait another year for a new ESEA — from ednetinsight.com by Mary Broderick
Mary Broderick, 2011-2012 President, National School Boards Association (NSBA), and the former chair of Connecticut’s East Lyme Board of Education — Friday, April 13, 2012

Excerpt:

For nearly five years, school leaders around the country have urged Congress to make dramatic changes to the No Child Left Behind law. We’re now reaching a critical point where too many schools are being unfairly penalized, community support is undermined, and we’re forced to sacrifice vital subjects that engage students to focus on state tests.

NCLB—the ten-year-old version of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)—marked nearly half of all public schools as “failing” last year, and 100% will be “failing” by 2014. This absurd statistic demonstrates that the law isn’t working the way it was intended. However, because Congress hasn’t seized the initiative to make major changes, school districts are operating in limbo between a flawed law and an unsure future in the direction of federal policy. For our public schools to move forward and for our children to be competitive, the National School Boards Association (NSBA) is pushing Congress to pass a new law this year. NSBA represents the nation’s 13,800 school boards, but there’re thousands of administrators, teachers, and other school staff members who also see the law’s problems firsthand.

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whatiflearning.co.uk: Connecting Christian faith and teaching across various ages and subjects

On 04/12/2012, in Australia, communities of practice, creativity, education, engagement / engaging students, faith, K-12 related, pedagogy, real-world assignments, teaching & learning, UK, United States, by Daniel Christian

whatiflearning.co.uk -- Examples of connecting Christian faith and teaching across various ages and subjects.

 

Excerpt:

This site is for teachers who want their classrooms to be places with a Christian ethos whatever the subject or age group you teach. It explores what teaching and learning might look like when rooted in Christian faith, hope, and love. It does this by offering 100+ concrete examples of creative classroom work and an approach which enables you to develop your own examples.

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‘What if Learning’ is a “distinctively Christian” approach developed by an international partnership of teachers from Australia, the UK and the USA. It is based on the premise that a Christian understanding of life makes a difference to what happens in classrooms. Its aim is to equip teachers to develop their distinctively Christian teaching and learning strategies for their own classrooms.

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 Addendum on 4-17-12:

 

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In U.S., while the real median household incomes continue to decrease, tuitions continue to increase.

On 04/10/2012, in cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, economics, higher education, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, staying relevant, United States, by Daniel Christian

 

"The American Dream: Fraying of the Folklore" San Francisco Chapter of the National Association of Business Economics. February 29, 2012

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From DSC:

Note the troubling picture here for higher ed — the real median household income continues to decrease in the last several years, yet in those same years, there have still been increases in the cost of tuition.  That is, I’ll bet the going rates of higher ed degrees in California are not at their 1998 prices/levels.

 

Staying Relevant

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Also see:

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In cloud computing moves, money isn’t everything [Darrow]

On 03/27/2012, in Asia, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, Europe, India, innovation, IT in HE, United States, by Daniel Christian

In cloud computing moves, money isn’t everything — from gigaom.com by Barb Darrow

Excerpt:

While saving money is a commonly reason cited for moving IT to the cloud, it is really not the overriding driver at all for most companies, according to new research.

What’s more important than cost savings for companies — at least in the U.S. and Asia-Pacific regions — is the ability to standardize their software and business processes across the company, according to a new survey of 600 large companies by Tata Consultancy Services, the $8 billion IT service provider. In Europe and Latin America, the primary rationale was the ability to ramp systems up and down faster.

According to the survey:

The factors driving companies to launch entirely new applications in the cloud are quite different – to institute new business processes and launch new technology-dependent products and services.

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