Title

The Future of Higher Education in the U.S.: MOOCs, a Case in Point

Abstract

The organization of higher education in the U.S. has changed relatively little in the past century. When most people think of colleges and universities, they think of campuses consisting of brick or stone buildings, with green malls and big trees and students moving from class to class. Similarly, the delivery method for higher education has changed very little. When most people think of a university education, they think of large lecture halls, with a single professor in front of dozens if not hundreds of students. Increasingly, U.S. colleges and universities are under pressure to change both how they are organized and how they deliver courses. While many believe change is inevitable, others believe higher education is ready for a “revolution.” One approach to teaching that is believed to be the basis for this revolution is the MOOC (massive open online course), where the best teachers in the world reach literally thousands of students, scattered across the world. This webinar seeks to understand MOOCs, to explore their potential impact on higher education, and to examine the future of higher education, specifically by examining incentives and obstacles to change.

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