Tried to get some early sleep - but it didn't work. Hahaha! So I decided to pen down some thoughts regarding higher education and digital technology in the wake of COVID.
Personally, I think that the COVID lockdown has given society a rude awakening. Rarely does the human race come to face with its own mortality in this day and age (though it is likely that COVID19's mortality rate is inflated, and is unlikely to reach the rates of the bubonic plague). For those born after 911 and the SARS pandemic, COVID probably approximated a societal crisis to our sensitivities. In the midst of the gloom and doom however (I have since stopped watching the news and feel much better), I think that there are a few important lessons that we can all take away - all linked to the notion of importance. It's a bit late so I might be rambling here.
1. First and foremost - Many things are good, but not many things are essential. Capitalism and economics, leveraging human ingenuity and hard work has created economic progress the human race has never seen before. Consequently, there have been many goods and services produced to give us an abundance of comfort. But comfort is not always a need - often a want. In the face of a potentially life-threatening disease, many goods and services that individuals would have paid a premium for are now left on the shelf (unless you have the capital to weather the storm of course, in which case you could make a killing once the pandemic ends). In turn, I think and honestly hope that society puts things back into perspective. What occupations should we truly value? What services should be lauded in society?
2. If some services and goods are more essential then others, dare I propose that some methods and modalities can extract and deliver the essence of said goods and services more effectively than others. COVID has seen the digitalization of a wide variety of goods and services, ushering an even greater proliferation of digital services than before.To a certain extent, at least where I stay, we are fast approaching the point in which not having digital technology or access is a severe limitation in society. As COVID has shown, perhaps not all services need a physical interface, human interaction and the like.
This brings me to higher education. I wonder what the ramifications of the sudden switch to digital/ online modalities for courses would be? A greater acceptance of online alternatives and options for university students? Or perish the thought! No stigma for a student who attained online certification vis-a-vis an individual that actually attended the university. But are there differences? Are we, individuals who are taking online courses losing out? Either answer is troubling. If we are not losing out - why are our children spending tens of thousands of dollars to attend prestigious universities that offer online courses for half the price anyway! Just for the certification? Or perhaps more realistically, the connections and informal networks that can be made in face to face interactions in class?
If we are losing out . . . I WANT MY MONEY BACK! Hahahah just kidding. But on a more serious note, what are the key differences? If we acknowledge digital technology as an effective medium for extracting the essence of a service, what can be done to improve digital interfaces to level the playing field? Moreover, what standard of digital service should we expect from universities that offer online courses and certifications?
Questions, questions, questions. Or perhaps I'm getting a bit ansty from staying at home and just studying. Oh well, guess more reading is in order. Moop.
I really appreciate your musings here -- there are so many great point you raise. When at my last position, I was the only one in my department that had not gone to grad school. When I first began voicing that I wanted to go back to school and probably pursue a degree online, many people in my office warned me that I would be missing out and that future employers would want me to have the cohort experience that they would be familiar with. This raised the question of what was more important -- a name brand education or an in-person education? Did either really matter? To be honest, I don't know.
ReplyDeleteIf I were 18-years-old today, would I find value in paying $686.65 for an online class from Florida State versus $311 for the same class online from St. Petersburg College? (These are actual costs that I paid in 2013 for undergraduate classes.) When I obtained my AA before transferring to FSU in 2013, I was afraid that I had missed out on the college experience in exchange for saving some money. I found that the two years of the "traditional college experience" to be sufficient enough for me considering my circumstances and budget constraints. In today's climate, I would not think twice in signing up for a local college to later transfer. I think there are some big growing changes ahead for higher education because of this.
Exactly Kendyl! I sure hope so as well. Personally I think that there is a university bubble brewing - i.e. the intrinsic value of the university experience and degree is lower than its price/perceived value (especially for undergraduate courses). Argh!!! Don't get me started on textbooks as well! They just change editions every two years and for what? To change the chapter numbers or combine numbers so that the material 'flows' better but still write on topics in a manner so dry it makes the Sahara look like an oasis!
DeleteAh, the cost of textbooks. This, to me, is a good reason to look toward OER.
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