- Richard Horowitz
- Santa Monica, CA
- United States
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An Accredited Open Source On Line University; The Commons
The individual parts already exist for the creation of a free or near free Accredited Open Source On Line University: eBooks, distance learning, including video lectures, automated test taking and correction, on line gathering to exchange ideas. The only impediment are the accrediting agencies themselves as they seek to protect the high priced education system that serves fewer and fewer and is not sustainable economically. What will it take to remove or convince these agencies to embrace education for the common good at a price that everyone can afford?
Debra Smith 200+
Richard Horowitz
Richard Horowitz
On line teaching is now a part of almost every accredited college and university. The format is accepted; the problem is it still costs the same as going to the physical college. I think you are correct Robert, schools are more concerned with money than with education. That is where the open source alternative comes in so long as the education you receive there is useful, transferable, accepted, and accredited. Fritzie, I don't think most of the essays fall under the automated test taking rubric. You actually need a real person to read and evaluate it. I don't have all the answers. Perhaps the students themselves could read each others essays and comment and discuss. The role of the accreditation agency currently is to confer legitimacy which translates into going forward with your education whether in medical school, law school or entering an advanced degree program. Attending a school that is not accredited pretty much bars you from any of these choices. Also the Dept of Education bases its loans and grants on attending accredited institutions.Here is there list of what schools they consider accredited : http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ Here is a link showing who is responsible for accrediting whom: http://www2.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/index.html
Here is some good news; California is requiring digital textbooks become available by 2020.
http://chronicle.com/blogs/wiredcampus/california-law-encourages-digital-textbooks-by-2020/20526
I think that is a step in the right direction.
Robert Winner 50+
I agree that schools are way over priced and getting worse. State universities are charged with providing a quality education at the lowest fee possible. The management and facilities usage are failures that we as taxpayers are aware of but have little or no control over. States fund schools at billions of dollars while the school has a multi-billion dollar endowment fund. I could go on but to no purpose.
I feel that on-line schools are the future but must overcome many problems. To be honest I feel that all schools are now more concerned about money than education of the students.
All the best. Bob
Fritzie Reisner 100+
How does an initiative like EdX, the free course offerings being launched by MIT and Harvard fit into The Commons? How about Stanford's similar offerings? Are you thinking that those who take online courses should get credit for having taken those courses without any sort of assessment of whether they understand and can use the content? You mention automated test taking, but should the evaluation of essays and projects be automated? If you do think showing you learned the material should be part of getting credit for the course, who would evaluate whether you understand when a multiple choice test would measure that poorly? And should the person who evaluates that be paid for his time or not? Or do you think it should be an honor system that people get credit if they say they understand and can use the content?
Paul Ivinskas
A great start would be to have a free Open Source On Line University that you can gain limited credits from before transfering to another accredited University. This would be a great place to start before implementing greater power to the "Commons."
Take little by little from the high priced education system until you are a major player in it.
However, I am still very weary of online education and classes as there arn't enough security measures to keep people from cheating and breaking ethical rules. Wouldn't it be nice if something such as TED cred expanded into certain TED cred fields and could be used on a resume? For example someone could have 200 TED cred in IT or Electrical Engineering. Not saying that this should be the same as a standard degree but it would be nice if it helped you get an entry level position in your field of choice. It would show employers you are dedicated to your field and have a genuine interest.
I'm not trying to talk about starting TED University or anything but something that parallels it would be fantastic.
Bharath Kumar Kunjibettu 10+
This is definitely an idea that needs to considered and it is something that is possible . With increasing costs in higher education ,it is impossible for people in developing countries to pursue higher education.
Considering these challenges , Richard's idea is really a powerful one . With so much of technology advancements that we already have , I don't see a reason why this should not be implemented.
Kris Rosvold