Let me just start by saying that for the past few years I have been hearing educators rage against the for-profit institutions and online instruction. And rightly so in many cases. There are many of these online for-profit schools that offer sub standard education for a cost that is comparable to the traditional brick and mortar schools of higher education.
The rising cost of higher education, the technical disruption of traditional methods of communication, the economic downturn, and the disproportionate promotion of majors without definitive career paths have created a perfect storm. For the first time that I can remember, large portions of society are questioning the value of a college education. The kids growing up today will adapt and start learning in different ways.The methods of learning that you and I look at as inefficient will not seem that way to them. But instead of adopting some of the positive aspect of online education and looking for ways to improve upon it, traditional academics basically dismissed it.
And the rise of MOOCs within the last few years or so has many within the academy worried. If just one of these organizations/schools/partnerships gets it right and is able to offer quality and accredited education at a reduced price, it will be over for the existing structure. It is already happening. Higher Ed, much like the music and the newspaper/magazine industries, was too slow in making needed changes. They thought that they would be immune to the technological and economic shifts. They were wrong. I suspect that in 10 years from now colleges will be very different.
I don’t think it will happen that quick only because the small private colleges that are moderately profitable will be the first to feel the pinch. The larger institutions that are city and state sponsored will do better, but only because they are backed by the government.
For starters, academic institutions could have tried to control the rising cost of education and promoted majors that point to definitive career paths. Especially when technical disruption of traditional methods of communication and the economic downturn have creative a perfect storm in which, for the first time that I can remember, large portions of society are questioning the value of a college education. People are looking towards majors that lead to long term sustainable professions. Those are just a few of the answers off the top of my head. I could go on for hours on this topic. I can have at least another good 15-20 to work within the current a academic system barring a substantial financial windfall. However, I doubt the current system will last that long. Thus I feel the need to hedge my bets and broaden my skill set toward possible future shifts.
link — http://zowchow.com/gadgets/online-education-is-replacing-physical-colleges-at-a-crazy-fast-pace/
link — http://www.mindingthecampus.com/originals/2012/11/does_online_education_actually.html
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/293079/10-excellent-free-online-education-resources
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
http://www.openculture.com/freelanguagelessons