Comments on: Ending the University as We Know It http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html The best free cultural & educational media on the web Mon, 13 Feb 2012 21:01:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Lindsay http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3827 Lindsay Wed, 06 May 2009 17:26:10 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3827 I completely agree that Liberal Arts education should be more interdisciplinary and technologically advanced. I graduated from Vassar in 2008 with a major in Media Studies, one of the few interdisciplinary programs at the college. The freedom to build a well-rounded education through multiple disciplines was what drew me to the program, and what gave me a stronger education in the end. We were also given the option to do a traditional thesis or a multimedia project. I created a website along with a supplementary paper, which was much more engaging and allowed me to interact with my thesis topic in a more creative way. I think more of these programs should be implemented in all institutions of higher education. Some subjects should be singular, such as medicine, but most could benefit from a multidisciplinary perspective that allows students to broaden the scope of their education. I completely agree that Liberal Arts education should be more interdisciplinary and technologically advanced. I graduated from Vassar in 2008 with a major in Media Studies, one of the few interdisciplinary programs at the college. The freedom to build a well-rounded education through multiple disciplines was what drew me to the program, and what gave me a stronger education in the end. We were also given the option to do a traditional thesis or a multimedia project. I created a website along with a supplementary paper, which was much more engaging and allowed me to interact with my thesis topic in a more creative way. I think more of these programs should be implemented in all institutions of higher education. Some subjects should be singular, such as medicine, but most could benefit from a multidisciplinary perspective that allows students to broaden the scope of their education.

]]> By: Bob Price http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3774 Bob Price Thu, 30 Apr 2009 19:38:57 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3774 Interesting comments. I see the article discussing the internal processes involved in current education and less about problems with the quality of education. I agree that open universities will dispute the need for redundant strengths and, hopefully, reduce associated costs for everyone. The Industrial Revolution is over. Interesting comments. I see the article discussing the internal processes involved in current education and less about problems with the quality of education.

I agree that open universities will dispute the need for redundant strengths and, hopefully, reduce associated costs for everyone. The Industrial Revolution is over.

]]> By: Ana http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3770 Ana Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:41:43 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3770 There's got to be balance. I like the cross disciplinary approach but then there is the issue of being accountable for future endeavors, I totally agree with Pete. I will never go to a doctor who is not focused and expertly educated in Medicine. I think there are programs wherein a cross disciplinary approach will work but Medicine, Law, Engineering, Architecture are exact Sciences. Literature, Music, Design, ...you can mix those stuff. Anything Digital like Programming you can put it in everything. I'm saying that by experience because I'm an undergrad - Computer Science. There’s got to be balance. I like the cross disciplinary approach but then there is the issue of being accountable for future endeavors, I totally agree with Pete. I will never go to a doctor who is not focused and expertly educated in Medicine. I think there are programs wherein a cross disciplinary approach will work but Medicine, Law,
Engineering, Architecture are exact Sciences.

Literature, Music, Design, …you can mix those stuff.

Anything Digital like Programming you can put it in everything. I’m saying that by experience because I’m an undergrad – Computer Science.

]]> By: Nick http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3767 Nick Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:39:58 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3767 Hasn't neoliberalism been discredited. Why do they insist on weakening worker protection. Tenure is there in part to ensure academic freedom. There is no crisis in the University (if there is such a single thing that we can refer to as such - which there isn't). Our education system does not have to become competitive, it needs to educate. Another example of disaster capitalism ala Naomi Klein. Hasn’t neoliberalism been discredited. Why do they insist on weakening worker protection. Tenure is there in part to ensure academic freedom.

There is no crisis in the University (if there is such a single thing that we can refer to as such – which there isn’t). Our education system does not have to become competitive, it needs to educate. Another example of disaster capitalism ala Naomi Klein.

]]> By: Pete http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3757 Pete Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:42:23 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3757 My first thought is, I entered investment banking just in time to watch it die. Now, as I prepare for a switch to academia, is that going away, too? Of course it's not; this is a great article to be written by a div school dude but the logical extension shows its failings. Imagine if we gave only half a medical education to a group of students, together with extensive training in history and poetry. Would they get licensed to practice medicine? Would you want this half-physician to practice on you? How about engineers? It's hard enough to cram in all the math and practical knowledge required in a Ph.D.'s coursework. Should we be cutting back on that and training mechanical engineers on a little bit about building bridges and a little bit about the politics of appropriations for bridges? I'd rather see collaboration in applying knowledge. Wouldn't you rather drive your children across a bridge designed by engineers who were 100% focused on designing bridges and who worked with lobbyists who were 100% focused on funding them instead of a big team of mixed engineer-lobbyists? I guess they mint wack-a-doos at that Columbia place. My first thought is, I entered investment banking just in time to watch it die. Now, as I prepare for a switch to academia, is that going away, too? Of course it’s not; this is a great article to be written by a div school dude but the logical extension shows its failings. Imagine if we gave only half a medical education to a group of students, together with extensive training in history and poetry. Would they get licensed to practice medicine? Would you want this half-physician to practice on you?

How about engineers? It’s hard enough to cram in all the math and practical knowledge required in a Ph.D.’s coursework. Should we be cutting back on that and training mechanical engineers on a little bit about building bridges and a little bit about the politics of appropriations for bridges? I’d rather see collaboration in applying knowledge. Wouldn’t you rather drive your children across a bridge designed by engineers who were 100% focused on designing bridges and who worked with lobbyists who were 100% focused on funding them instead of a big team of mixed engineer-lobbyists?

I guess they mint wack-a-doos at that Columbia place.

]]> By: Daniel Christian http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3756 Daniel Christian Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:14:16 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3756 My thoughts are listed at: http://www.calvin.edu/~dsc8/walmartofeducation.htm My thoughts are listed at: http://www.calvin.edu/~dsc8/walmartofeducation.htm

]]> By: Ruth http://www.openculture.com/2009/04/ending_the_university_as_we_know_it.html#comment-3749 Ruth Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:48:41 +0000 http://www.openculture.com/?p=3322#comment-3749 I think that Universities will have no choice but to adapt to the changing times. How can they expect to educate the next generation of leaders if they don't recognize the challenges and changes that young people will have to deal with? What I don't see the current generation of the "ivory tower old boys club" wanting to accept is that the scope of change which the new global economy Randy Charles Epping talks about in <a href="http://www.FusionEconomics.com/" rel="nofollow">The 21st Century Economy—A Beginner’s Guide</a> is forcing on the workers of the world is ultimately going to shake the foundations of their esteemed institutions as well. I think that Universities will have no choice but to adapt to the changing times. How can they expect to educate the next generation of leaders if they don’t recognize the challenges and changes that young people will have to deal with? What I don’t see the current generation of the “ivory tower old boys club” wanting to accept is that the scope of change which the new global economy Randy Charles Epping talks about in The 21st Century Economy—A Beginner’s Guide is forcing on the workers of the world is ultimately going to shake the foundations of their esteemed institutions as well.

]]>