- The president of McGraw-Hill predicts that "campuses will be completely digital" in 3 years.
- A study funded by McGraw-Hill found--surprise!--that its digital Learning Smart features enhanced learning.
- It has a "pay-for-performance" model with the online Western Governors University that "ties the fees we receive for learning materials to the grades of the students using those materials in class."
- I couldn't figure out how to interpret this, since the link provided gave no clue. I did read at a link on the page that the American Enterprise Institute thinks that accreditation is a too-little, too-late warning system that will gradually fade away once the invisible hand of the market works its magic on higher ed.
- "Colleges such as Indiana University and the University of Minnesota are partnering with learning companies to ensure that all students have access to the learning materials for their courses at a price that’s substantially lower than what they’re used to paying – as much as 60 percent less than a print textbook."
- Will that still be the case--cheaper than used books--once the digital materials are the only game in town?
- "While the transition to an all-digital learning materials experience may not always be comfortable, it’s one that is a necessary part of the solution."
- Really? Necessary for whom? "Solution" to what problem? What are we solving here? Whose comfort are we talking about?
In unrelated news, the Village Voice feature on for-profit colleges shows how congressional leaders have made them the gold mines that they are:
The industry had discovered the value of paying protection money to Congress. It spent $16 million on lobbying last year alone, buying a dream team of former officials that includes former HouseMajority Leader Dick Gephardt (D-Missouri) and no less than 14 former congressmen.
"I didn't know when I got into the issue of for-profit schools that it was the best way for me to have a reunion with every member of Congress as they parade through the door, all representing these schools," says U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), who has held hearings investigating for-profits. "There is so much money on the table they can afford to hire everybody."
Money for everyone, that is, except the students, who are saddled with debts that they--unlike every corporation--or should I say "person"?-- in America--can never discharge through bankruptcy.
See also Leslie M-B's reaction to the recent report on the gold mine that is for-profit online education.
1 comment:
Yes, our McG-H representative has already contacted us to get us to participate. You should see his language, it is all about helping us by stealing our materials, ideas and expertise.
Post a Comment