A recent video dean David Ray of the University of Oklahoma
Honors College discusses the value of higher education and how that education
will need to change to encourage greater skill development in students. He
talked for nearly 20 minutes on TEDxOU to discuss the changes in higher
education, how that education is viewed by students and faculty, and where it
should move.
The discussion includes information on past recessions and when
the economy recovers most employers began to hire again. More modern
recessions, including the Great Recession, have seen a jobless recovery. This
means that it took 12 or more months for employers to start hiring and this in
turn created a shift in the type of jobs and skills employers are looking for.
This shift has created a need to encourage more rigorous
academic standards. Students read about half the amount they did in the past
and engage in college much less. There is a lack of motivation from students
while the job skill requirements are increasing. Students may be graduating
from the unchanged academic system not being prepared for the working world. More
radical change is needed to make it work again.
Technology affords some changes and benefits in education.
Content rich information that helps students understand and apply concepts is
important. However, these content rich formats need to include reading and
writing as part of the coursework. Without the skill to write well it is
difficult for students to formalize concepts and express them accurately.
Because of a lack of motivation MOOCs have not done as well
as originally thought. Free classes mixed with an instant culture and lack of
motivation means that 90% of students either fail or drop out. There are 10% of
students that are highly motivated and they are willing to learn on their own
and use the MOOC system to enhance that learning.
The speaker offers a suggestion for engineers and scientists
in the audience to go read about Iliad. For those with Liberal Arts Degrees
they should take a MOOC on math to develop their skills. This type of
humanities balanced with analytical skills helps people understand the
development of greater lives and societies.
