Category: Future of Education

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Online education might be the future, whether we like it or not

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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

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The new SPS website!

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The new website for the CUNY School of Professional Studies (SPS) is now available. I am very proud to be associated with this organization. The site sports a beautiful new design that highlights the amazing direction of the college.The marketing statement, “Education that works as hard as you do”, is a perfect description of SPS.

On a personal note, I have to admit that I love the new section dedicated to the Communication and Media program. I also need to remember to ask the marketing director for a high quality version of the headshot that was used on my bio page. It was the best photo of me I have seen in years.

https://www.sps.cuny.edu/

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Life after ITP

NYU ITP Panel

As part of an alumni panel discussing life and career possibilities after graduation, I was invited once again to speak to students in the NYU Interactive Telecommunication Program. It was a great event, but I must admit to having a good laugh at the fact that I was the oldest person on the panel by far.

The funniest thing was when I mentioned the year I graduated a student in the front row mouthed the word “wow”. Dat’s right son, I’m a straight up ODG (Original Digital Gangsta)! Protect ya neck!

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Speaking at the Grad Center

A colleague of mine, Michael Mandiberg, invited me to be a guest lecturer for a class he was teaching at the CUNY Graduate Center. The students in his class were PhD candidates within the CUNY Interactive Technology and Pedagogy certificate program. Over the course of the semester his class examined how people and technologies have shaped academic classroom and research interactions in the past, and how they are reshaping the university in the present.

I spoke on the topic of “The Digital Humanities & the Future of Academic Inquiry and Publishing”. Michael thought that my previous papers, interviews, and conference presentations on the topic of digital scholarship would help spark a lively debate among his students.

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CUNY IT Conference 2015: Online Learning

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We had a great session yesterday at the 14th annual CUNY IT conference held at John Jay College. The subject of the session I participated in was “Online Learning: What’s in it for CUNY”. The panel featured some of the most knowledgeable people within the City University system on the topic of how online education can best be implemented to the benefit of our students, faculty, and individual institutions.

The session was well attended and the discussion section of the panel spark a number of interesting debates on how CUNY needs to proceed with online education. In November of 2014 CUNY Chancellor James B. Milliken, speaking at a meeting of the Association for a Better New York, proclaimed Continue reading “CUNY IT Conference 2015: Online Learning”

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CUNY Career Opportunities for NYU-ITP Students

I was approached a few months back by the folks at NYU to be a part of an academic career opportunities event for students of the Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP). I was asked to to introduce ITP students to the teaching opportunities available within the City University of New York (CUNY) system. My presentation highlighted the two schools I represent, the CUNY School of Professional Studies and LaGuardia, and how current students and alumni can work as adjuncts, teaching assistants, tutors, workshop organizers, application writers, interns, etc..

This felt very much like a homecoming for me. It was the first time I had formally presented at my old Alma Mater. I had forgotten how much I had enjoyed my time at ITP.

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This is why I teach.

I had just returned from one of the many meetings that I have during the week to find a Facebook instant message from a former student of mine. I hadn’t seen or heard from Juan directly since a few months after he graduated. It was great to hear that he was doing fantastic and that I was able to play a small role in his success. At the end of the day this is essentially why I continue to teach. None of my other responsibilities as a professor even comes close to the satisfaction of helping students find their way in life, both personally and professionally.

thanksprof

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Black Males & Learning to Swim Upstream

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I had an opportunity to participate on a faculty panel at LaGuardia Community College to discuss the topic of Black Males in Adult Education this week. I was invited to sit on the panel and critique “Swimming Upstream: Black Males in Adult Education” by my LaGuardia colleague, Dr. Joni Schwartz. The book was the first volume in a series of books that Joni and her colleagues are writing to give voice to important social and pedagogical topics issues facing Blacks in America.

The turnout for the faculty panel discussion was fairly large and it appeared Continue reading “Black Males & Learning to Swim Upstream”