The answer may be no* but it is the question that I would like to focus on for right now. The question came to mind today as I was thinking through my position on higher education innovation and access. Both are wrapped up in language of justice, equality, and fairness — all things about whichRead More “Are All of Your Education Disruptors White?”
Monthly Archives: May 2013
The Highered Disruption Playlist
I’m not a cultural studies person, at all. I don’t have the chops, at all. I envy people like the brilliant Zandria Robinson who makes it look like baking an EZ Oven cake, but I digress. I woke up this morning to more MOOC news. In the NY Times, no less. That’s the equivalent ofRead More “The Highered Disruption Playlist”
“We’re Not Phoenix” Prestige, MOOCs, Etc.
In a recent talk at UC-Irvine I mentioned that MOOC purveyors had learned lessons from the trajectory of for-profit higher education. I made a passing mention to 2tor CEO saying they would not have to build prestige; they’d borrow it instead. I thought this quote also sums up that point nicely: “We’re not Phoenix,” insistsRead More ““We’re Not Phoenix” Prestige, MOOCs, Etc.”
Profit, Poverty, and Policy: Going Back to California
I have a hankering for tying credentials to labor market processes and social policy. There, I said it. The cat is out of the bag. I’m just crazy enough to try to update a 50 year old literature on status competition and institutionalism with a focus on inequality. In a sign that I may, indeed,Read More “Profit, Poverty, and Policy: Going Back to California”
Profit, HigherEd and Lessons on the Prestige Cartel
My friend Aaron Bady (who may one day learn to spell my whole name!) had the foresight to publish his excellent analysis of temporality, future fetishization, and MOOC evangelism at his online home. He encouraged me to similarly publish my talk. Here’s the thing: I go off script. A lot. I mean, I go wayRead More “Profit, HigherEd and Lessons on the Prestige Cartel”
Talking MOOCs and 4profits at UC Irvine
Catherine Liu was kind enough to invite me to ruminate on for-profit higher education at UC-Irvine this week. I joined my twitter friend, Aaron Bady, in a free-wheeling discussion of MOOCs and for-profit higher education. I often find it difficult to convince those in “real” colleges that they are in dialogue with for-profit higher education.Read More “Talking MOOCs and 4profits at UC Irvine”
Things I’m Not Supposed To Say: Make It Cheaper To Fail
I came out of the closet on twitter today with an idea I’ve had for some time. Part of being a junior scholar is learning what ideological wars you don’t have the gravitas to wade into. The hyper-focus on degree completion and persistence is one of those. But since the cat is out of theRead More “Things I’m Not Supposed To Say: Make It Cheaper To Fail”
Social Legitimacy and The University of Westfield Online
I have said before that there is something about a cultural object when it crosses over into parody. It can either signal that the object’s legitimacy is so established that it’s ripe for poking a few holes. Think about a comedy sketch about bloviating Harvard professors, for instance. No one thinks the joke undermines Harvard’sRead More “Social Legitimacy and The University of Westfield Online”