Webster’s dictionary definition of education is: “the action or process of teaching someone especially in a school, college, or university”.
I suspect that definition was the same 10, 20, even 30+ years ago. Education supports outcomes sought by those seeking it. A better career; personal fulfillment; prerequisite for promotion and many other outcomes are achieved through education.
However, the concept of having to sit in a bricks & mortar classroom at well-defined times to be taught extemporaneously by a teacher as an example of “especially in a school, college, or university” may go the way of the hardcopy newspaper. The internet has provided awesome educational resources that may be accessed 24/7 at nearly zero cost to the educated. Kindle and other E-readers have changed the way we read books. The cost of a university education begs the question of whether or not there is value. I am well aware of the studies indicating the relationship between higher education and career income. I am questioning the delivery system of education.
Many educational topics do not change much. Why should a person have to sit through a math lecture at 9:00 am on Tuesday versus having the lecture accessible through webinar. The webinar lecture could be accessible 24/7 and retained indefinitely. No further effort on behalf of the educator, yet the value would continue to be provided. Khan Academy ( www.khanacademy.org ) is example of a low cost educational distribution source. You may learn various levels of math, science, finance, history, etc. within your schedule and at your pace.
You either know something or you do not. How you obtained the education to know what you know shouldn’t matter. This provides the key obstacle to the expansion of free and low-cost convenient education. A traditional brick and mortar degree has been a stamp of approval indicating you know stuff whether or not you actually do know your stuff! Online education is not currently afforded the blind accreditation a university education is. This is changing and will create tremendous efficiencies as our country transitions away from the industrial revolution to a technology-based work environment.
As with any change, there are powerful forces resisting changes in where we obtain education . If you are a teacher who’s been paid to conduct your class multiple times per day over years, then you may be uncomfortable with the concept of conducting this class once (recorded and accessible online). This teacher would have to come up with new and innovative content for the next class.
It’s difficult to be against more and varied access to education. The clear winner is the student. Anyone wanting to learn any topic throughout their life may now do so easily and economically. This will bring accountability to how much value a live interaction with a teacher provides. Great teachers will always provide great value. Certain topics lend themselves to live teaching more than others. Teachers who punch a clock and are glorified sitters might want to seek further education.
Ryan Poterack began this blog in January 2014. He resides in Charlotte, NC. Ryan Poterack enjoys discussing and debating a variety of topics, and is known for often taking a contrarian stance just for the sport of it. :)
