Blogs:

We all know that Wikipedia is the largest encyclopedia in the world today created by millions of users from all over the world. The medium of Internet has transformed the way knowledge is being distributed around the world. Today you can find audio lectures from some of the most sought after professors from around the world on popular video sites such as iTunes U made video and YouTube Edu for free.

Facebook is one of the largest social networking sites that connect millions of people from around the world. All this has categorically transformed the way in which we share information today. When the advancement is so rapid, how far is the day when online resources are utilized to develop a unique and new model of education to reach more number of students in an economical manner?

The fresh new genres of edupunks as they are called are on the job. They are developing brand new business models and experiments with the help of students, professors and entrepreneurs. They are trying out various methods such as a classroom based on a role playing game model, a wiki university for offering free studies and just for a few dollars, providing a bachelor’s degree that is accredited. There are great efforts on to improve comprehensive learning for everyone in the world by roping in the power of technology and by lowering costs.

One of the greatest innovations in higher education is the “open content”. Online courses are offered at OpenCourseWare Consortium in at least 200 institutions around 32 countries as a part of the movement initiated by MIT. However, it still remains to be seen how YouTube videos and podcasts can replace an accredited and recognized degree. The LCD monitor certainly cannot replace textured experience of colleges. However the trend offers an exciting opportunity to provide education to those who cannot afford to go to schools or colleges.

Peer2Peer is a social networking site offering teaching and learning. Online Western Governors University’s president Bob Mendenhall is proud of the innovation in assessment and accreditation of his college. WGU is a result of the efforts of 19 Western State’s governors to take advantage of the potent Internet medium to offer access to higher education to rural students. Today it is one of the most successful online universities where at least 12,000 students study. WGU was established with the help  of employers of the national advisory board including Tenet Healthcare and Google.

Assessment is not about grades or number of credit hours. Competencies are measured with the help of a series of assessments before the degree is awarded to the student.  Each competency area is measured through these assessments.

This University has set the trend for the future of higher education system. The intense experiments and model assessments going on everywhere may just result in the eruption of a number of good online universities which will offer access to knowledge to a huge untapped student base in remote areas.