Gunning For The University

There are a growing number of enterprising individuals and groups out there working hard to transform higher education. They are using technology to do to the university what is being done to newspapers, the music industry, and publishers. Far fetched? Well, consider that college tuition and fees increased 439 percent between 1982 and 2007--after inflation—while employers complain that graduates are unable to apply what they supposedly learned in college. How much longer will people be willing to go into debt to pay escalating fees for a service decreasing in effectiveness? And consider the impact technology is having on every aspect of our lives. When is the last time you took a roll of film to be developed? How many young people do you see wearing watches? Ever ask a student for their “home” phone number? Or ask to see their CD collection? Do you think the university is as secure as the printed page? Amazon now sells more e-books than hardcover volumes.

Replacing marker boards with Smartboards will not constitute keeping up with technology. For an explanation of the challenges facing higher education and the transformative efforts underway, I recommend reading DIY U by author and journalist Anya Kamenetz. The first part of the volume provides an informative overview of the history, demographics, and economics of higher education. These chapters provide an understanding of the current challenges facing higher education. Kamenetz clearly explains why college costs have dramatically escalated and why efforts to increase access to college are likely to fail under the present educational model. Part two of the book describes the opportunities and threats for higher education emerging from innovations in technology. Educators who hope to remain relevant in a changing world are advised to read this book. Using past approaches to prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s world will not suffice. We must join our students in becoming educated about what the future may hold.