Posted on 02/23/2011 4:34:25 AM PST by decimon
In his recent State of the State address, Texas Governor Rick Perry called for the state’s universities to begin offering a bachelor’s degree with a total cost (including tuition, fees, and textbooks) of only $10,000, in contrast to the current $26,800 to $45,300. If we include the cost to taxpayers, the total bill (at UT-Austin) runs to at least $95,000.
Can we really reduce that cost by nearly 90%, while maintaining or even improving quality? Yes, we can, if we do two things: intelligently exploit the huge economies of scale in higher education in Texas, with 950,000 students in college; and take full advantage of technology.
Students in our state universities spend most of their academic careers in large lecture courses. The word “lecture” dates from the Middle Ages, meaning “reading.” In the days before the printing press, when books were rare, it made sense for students to fill lecture halls so they could hear their teachers read aloud — this standard operating procedure of higher education is now 500 years old. With the availability of high-speed streaming, downloading, and wifi, the old methods make less and less sense.
At our state universities, there are as many as 100 different bachelor’s programs available, from Portuguese to textiles and apparels. There are few required classes in most majors: instead each university offers thousands of electives, each course being designed and delivered by individual faculty on an ad hoc basis. The vast cafeteria of offerings generates the need for thousands of different textbook titles, burdening students with hundreds of dollars of additional expense.
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
>> Thought tu was supposed to make full freshman year available on-line.
I’m curious: how exactly do you put a beer bong and party chicks on line?
I’ve heard of AJAX and Web 2.0 but I didn’t realize the technology was THAT good.
States can 'own' copyrights? Since this effort would be supported by state taxes, the on-line stuff would all be available to non students as well??
Beats me. And it may not matter as it looks like private initiatives like those of Salman Khan may render moot all government schemes: Khan Academy.
Khan may become the Henry Ford of education.
thanks!
You're welcome.
I may have first heard of that in a thread here at FR.
Accountability? You want accountability from us college instructors? I’ll give you accountability!!! 1...2...3...4! Yeah! I can count! I’ve got accountability!
No! That would be too embarrassing!
Considering how well I am doing, I think I should go silent forever!
I love Spanish and I'll hear it every day from the family until I can hear no more.
I adore Portuguese. My best experience (uhm, speaking) was on a bus back from the Sambadrome the "manha depois Carnaval". I met a girl who looked like an ex GF in the states. She had a little girl with her and the little girl was counting to 10 for me. She got to 10 and pronounced it with a Carioca accent. This was frowned upon humorously in Sao Paulo due to a friendly rivalry between Rio De Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
So her mom stops her and corrects her; "'Dez' nao 'Dex'" she goes. Of course the little girl is looking at all of the laughing, drunk people and the mother trying not to laugh. "Dex!Dex!Dex!"
For me to understand the subtle difference in the various regional accents was really a treat. I had originally learned Portuguese because I loved chasing Brasilian and other South American women. It became much more to me and a personal exploration of culture and how far I could immerse myself.
So anyway, it was still a pretty bad hangover. I remember that part pretty clearly. Too bad we can't get paid for it - LOL!
I will say, one of the most amazing moments for me as a single man was waking up on a beach, not knowing where I was, hearing nothing but Portuguese and pagode music. My mind processed it slowly "Uh Dude, you're in Brasil."
Still foggy on how I got there, I was about as happy as I've ever been. Went back to sleep. Can't explain it, but I remember that moment of happiness like I was in heaven or something. Maybe crazy, but that's how I remember Brasil.
“Then you have the value issue. As an employer, are you more going to view a candidate with a degree from the University of Texas more favorably than one with a degree from YYU?”
Online education/distance learning can be delivered for a fraction of the cost of traditional sticks and bricks classrooms.
So called distance learning has been around for a long time. It used to be called “correspondence courses” (through the snail mail). Check into the senior military and diplomatic ranks, and I predict you’ll find advanced degrees awarded by distance learning institutions.
If a private company tries to create a $10,000 bachelor degree, I wish them well. The best path to doing it is by online distance methods.
No doubt obstacles include accredidation, book companies, labor groups, etc.
There would almost certainly be lobby efforts by expensive traditional schools, to not accept transfer credits from online schools, etc.
That’s way too high a cost. Try $2000. Or less!
And with that price I guarantee BETTER educated graduates.
The concept isn't new at all. In fact it's over 75 years old, and prior to the days of the internet, you could buy a diploma through the mail from an ad in the back of a magazine, and these companies were called "diploma mills."
“The concept isn’t new at all. In fact it’s over 75 years old, and prior to the days of the internet, you could buy a diploma through the mail from an ad in the back of a magazine, and these companies were called “diploma mills.” “
But I am not talking about diploma mills. US military, diplomatic services abroad, and I believe the Brits have used legitimate correspondence education.
Originally it was by mail, but now of course online.
And many legitimate sticks and bricks schools also offer online as well.
Streaming video gives the technical method to witness a live (or recorded) lecture.
Variations are widely available now.
I see no good reason preventing legitimate delivery of quality education online, for very low prices.
Obstacles include accreditation, and other tradtional schools’ opposition.
And so did I when I was in the Air Force.
Wow, Decimon, you've been going to school for a very long time!
Slow learner.
Can I hire you? I need to figure out how to Spam....
Except for the matter of government interference through student loan programs.
Tuition rates are too high. ==> Government-sponsored student loans "solve" the problem. ==> Tuition rates are increased. Repeat ad infinitum.
I get lots of Spamish from Central America. About 9 years ago I surfed some real estate sites in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. I don't recall releasing my email address but they got it and spread it. At least it's not as bad as some English spam; I get ads for Dell computers in Panama, education courses to learn English and various sales but so far no pleas from wealthy Nicaraguan widows willing to share their fortunes if I help them out.
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