Next: An Internet Revolution in Higher Education

Business Week ^ | Sept . 15, 2009 | Kevin Maney

[decimon]

Scott McNealy, former CEO of Sun Microsystems (JAVA), met me for breakfast at an unassuming little restaurant in a strip mall tucked into the woods a few minutes' drive from his house. We discussed one of his recent passions: applying technology's open-source model to education. Sun was an early proponent of open source, giving the concept a huge boost when it opened up its Java software. And McNealy funded and helped promote a project called Curriki to create open-source textbooks that will ultimately be free, via the Internet.

Over an omelet and fruit, McNealy made it clear that possibilities in open-source education go far beyond textbooks. Before long, he claimed, the whole bloated, expensive, lecture-based higher education system will face the first challenge to its very existence: open-source, online higher education that costs a fraction of four years at Harvard -- but is good enough for employers who want a college graduate. "Universities will be forced to decide what they are. You know, are they going to be football teams with libraries attached?" McNealy asked. "That's what a lot of them are now."

[Paradox]

Another bastion of Liberalism being taken down by the Internet. First, the MSM, now, Higher Education..

[wastedyears]

Not sure what I should think of this. I’m not ready for college yet, but I would like to go in a few years.

[GeronL]

We can’t even cite Wikipedia and expect a grade above 0. Now this guy thinks TEXTBOOKS should become little wikipedia’s?

[9YearLurker]

If the next generation of private school students doesn’t even have books in their library, why should the football teams even bother with having libraries attached?

And if colleges are essentially just football teams, why doesn’t the NFL get involved? Plenty of Boston area students would be happy getting an online degree from Patriots U!

[9YearLurker]

Okay, while we’re at it, why shouldn’t Red Sox Nation open up a Red Sox State virtual branch?

[devane617]

McNealy is EXACTLY correct. Just like newspaper and the old MSM getting replaced with the 'New media,' so will colleges and universities be drastically altered or eliminated by the open-source model.

I remember the line in "Good Will Hunting" where he tells the Harvard student in the bar that he got his education for $1.98 in late fees at the local public library.

[wintertime]

You know, are they going to be football teams with libraries attached?” McNealy asked. “That's what a lot of them are now.”
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Many are merely a means to prolong adolescence.

Let's be honest. The social aspects of the “college experience” is really just an expensive and extended summer camp experience.

[decimon]

Not sure what I should think of this. I’m not ready for college yet, but I would like to go in a few years.

You are ready. If...you're willing to give the following a shot. Investigate CLEP and DANTES tests. And the 'assessment colleges', i.e., Excelsior, Charter Oak State College and Thomas Edison State College.

Here's something to consider about those tests: You can use them for credit (at schools accepting them) or not use them, at your discretion. Equivalent courses taken at an RA college must be reported to any subsequent RA school at time of matriculation.

I'm a broken record on this stuff but a non-traditional approach to an RA degree is worth considering.

[ottbmare]

It’s a mistake to think textbooks have to be in the mix. Traditionally the professor told students to go out and find their own books. He might make some recommendations and issue a reading list, but it was up to the student to learn what he needed in order to come to his classes and carry on intelligently with the professor/tutor. The idea of getting material from one textbook (often written by the professor) is a modern one and reduces the level of learning. If all one needed was a textbook, one could read it on one’s own without the professor or the high pricetag for the class.

[Stat-boy]

I wish I had Wiki years ago when I was taking graduate level math classes. The science and mathematics information on Wiki is very well done.

[decimon]

I wish I had Wiki years ago when I was taking graduate level math classes. The science and mathematics information on Wiki is very well done.

The Wiki idea is sound if not always well implemented. answers.com often reproduces wiki articles and often includes more info.

[Geritol]

colleges were primarily a collection of books. The students gathered there because the books were there. Not because of professors, directly. the leadership of the college may have collected the books and made it possible to be a college, but the reason for the students’ gathering was the library, not the teachers. let alone the football team...

Today, we can have those same and multitudes more books anyplace there is internet or a hard drive.

[decimon]

colleges were primarily a collection of books. The students gathered there because the books were there. Not because of professors, directly. the leadership of the college may have collected the books and made it possible to be a college, but the reason for the students’ gathering was the library, not the teachers. let alone the football team...

As with many traditions, the tradition of the American university is not very long and hasn't always had the current form. The time is ripe for change.