SCHOOL FOR THOUGHT

Cabooses are gone now

SQE recently published a report on online learning in Canada, which found that the potential of online learning is to some extent being blocked by the usual suspects. It’s reminiscent of the train employees’ union ability to block the elimination of cabooses (and their staffing) for many years after cabooses were no longer necessary. Similarly, online learning has the potential to reduce the number of union-belonging teachers. And of course in light of the Drummond report and the need to curtail spending, politicians are likely to get very interested in online learning very soon.

Which makes this news from MIT really interesting - its latest online course (Circuits and Electronics) will be offered to students anywhere in the world without charge and without prerequisite courses. The article is also interesting in documenting the surprising (to me, at least) extent of online courses already available from other universities. This looks like a tsunami to me, one that is going to roll over old-guard educators whether they like it or not (I’m guessing they won’t). H/T JE