I don't believe that the avalanche metaphor really fits the changes that are already occurring in academia (e.g., on-line delivery of content). But, based on how our profession has been evolving (devolving?) with the advent of technology and in other systemic ways (e.g., the slow disappearance of tenure, the emphasis on student outcomes, student-as-customer model, society's views on what education should be), I am VERY pessimistic about our future.
Miguel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Palij" <[email protected]> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS)" <[email protected]> Cc: "Michael Palij" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 12, 2013 7:56:27 AM Subject: [tips] I've Seen The Future, And You're Not In It On another list, a poster provided a link to a new "report" on the future of college education. The Foreword is written by Larry Summer of Harvard fame and former advisor to the Obama administration (and both of those worked out well for him and us). The authors of the report appear to be management types at Pearson (unclear whether this is the publishing company or something different). Anyway, here is the link to the report: http://www.ippr.org/images/media/files/publication/2013/03/avalanche-is-coming_Mar2013_10432.pdf And on the homepage of the IPPR, a British thinktank that sponsored the report, is here: http://www.ippr.org/ There's a video of one of the author's talking about the future of education -- click on the tab "Future HE" above the video screen. Bottom line, there will be superstar teachers, MOOCs, and reconceptualization of what teachers do and what students will be. The metaphor being used is that educational change will come like an avalanche, that is, they say that an avalanche seem to be solidly in place until it falls -- change is dramatic and unexpected and that is what will happen in higher education. But in a world suffering from global warming, will there be any avalanches when the snow is gone from the mountains? Anyway, hope that you retire before the avalanche comes. If it comes. -Mike Palij New York University [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=466839.0421d1005414eed82340aa280e7ce629&n=T&l=tips&o=24280 or send a blank email to leave-24280-466839.0421d1005414eed82340aa280e7ce...@fsulist.frostburg.edu --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=24283 or send a blank email to leave-24283-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
