In "U.S. Push for Free On-line Courses" we find a report of the Obama Administration's plan to move toward a "National Skills College" with free online courses and a certification for the on-line education. Granted this is targeted toward community colleges, but we don't need to look too hard to find the studies upon which the expansion to all Higher Ed will be be based.
In the very next article, "The Evidence on On-line Education" we find a report on how on-line learning is superior to face-to-face teaching and blended learning is even better. I do recommend reading the entire article and the comments.
The standardized on-line lecture will require less faculty and therefore less support. The budget problem is now solved. You can fight it, but the sides are forming up and I don't see anyone with power standing against this. The future of US Higher Education may resemble the Soviet Army in the Stalingrad of the Second World War. You dare not fall too far behind because if your not in the front line you risk being shot by your commanders moving up behind you.
T.S. Hall
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