The ‘advancing’ higher education

As I was doing my weekly reading, I checked up on Will Richardson’s blog and the title The Distributed University caught my eye, being a student at a university.He echoes the words of Jeff Jarvis who says that the modern university as we know it is in the process of being phased out.Richardson talks about what I call a “grocery store” approach to education.  A student should be able to pick not the university he or she wants to attend, but rather the professors, classes, and the like from any university.The obvious initial negative reaction to this Will Richardson addresses, “I know, I know. There is more to college than classes. I’m a poster child for that. And accreditation is a huge issue.”But I think what both Will Richardson and Jeff Jarvis  are overlooking is how this would ultimately lead to the destruction of the university as an institution of higher thinking.  A place where professors and their students conduct break-through research.  If a students was able to grocery shop for the school they wanted to attend, what good would that do the United States as a forerunner in higher thinking.I think what Will Richardson and Jeff Jarvis speak of is an elitist approach to education.  The best students will be able to pick out only the best teachers.  There will be no room for personal advancement.  I personally don’t see this as a progression for the system of universities.

Tags: College, education, Jeff Jarvis, University, Will Richardson