There’s lots of talk these days about the need for higher education to reform. From concerns about the return on investment of a college education to the idea of delivering more courses online, it’s hard to avoid the discussion wherever you go. I stumbled across this interesting piece from Pew Internet, a project of the Pew Research Center, and, to be honest, I am still digesting it. It’s very simply called “The Future of Higher Education,” and I think it gives an interesting look at what over 1,000 experts, researchers and more have to say about the subject.
Here are some highlights:
- 60% of the respondents believe that, by 2020, higher education will look quite different than it does today
- Many respondents among that majority agree that peer-to-peer learning will become a bigger reality
- Change is already happening incrementally, though it is coming with frustration and doubt
I did a search of the report and did not find much in the way of folks commenting about social media specifically. I’d love to know what the experts think about it, as I do think social media is changing not just education, but the world in sometimes very dramatic ways. Especially on the note that peer-to-peer learning will become a bigger reality, I could see a place for social networks there. So, what will 2020 look like for higher education and social media? Will Facebook still be around? Will there be a dedicated educational social network?
Do you have any thoughts about the future of higher education? Do you think some of that future is happening now? Share it with us in the comments.
By Kevin