Will the 2019 coronary virus disease eventually cause a long -awaited technical subversion in the field of higher education?The blocking measures that suddenly implemented in the middle of the semester forced major colleges and universities around the world, almost all overnight teaching.However, although teachers and students are difficult to adapt to this rapid change for a while, it may bring some benefits.
Like many companies, the university is also entangled with how to restart and takes a series of measures accordingly.For example, the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom announced that at least before the summer of 2021, it will only be taught online.Other institutions including Stanford University, including Stanford University, will combine live teaching with online courses and extend the school year to reduce the number of students at school at any time.
Crown disease does have a huge economic impact on higher education.There is no one in the dormitory area, and the gymnasium is Ke Luoque, and the students are reluctant to pay the full tuition.For many colleges and universities, revenue caused by decreased revenue due to the decrease in foreign students (especially Chinese students) may be difficult; many small and insufficient schools may be forced to suspend.
Even the top universities faced challenges.The University of Michigan expects that by the end of 2020, the loss caused by the epidemic may be as high as US $ 1 billion; Harvard University is expected to decrease by $ 750 million next year.
However, can the impact of this crown disease eventually bring better education to more people at a lower cost?The answer depends on whether the university will gradually fade with the epidemic, and putting related technologies aside, or seeking to use these technologies in the best way.In view of the importance of the interaction between professors, graduate students and undergraduates in the classroom, this is not a challenge that is easy to solve.
40 years ago, when I was a graduate student, I was convinced that video learning (the hottest technology at the time) would reshape university teaching.I don't think it can be allowed students all over the world to get the best lecturers and textbooks, especially considering the teaching of 200 or more students in the school, no matter how they can only provide extremely limited personal interactive space.
To be sure, classroom teaching will still play an important role.The professor will still organize teaching materials and answer questions.Moreover, I did not imagine that video courses could be taught instead of small class, and although the recording materials could certainly be applied to that kind of scene.Although it is really exciting to listen to a wonderful course in person, the reliable video course is definitely better than the mediocre face -to -face teaching.
However, when we speed up the time for 40 years, the progress is still limited.One reason may come from the university's governance system, teaching these institutions, and few of them are willing to take a path to reduce the demand for their own service.The professor will undoubtedly worry about video lectures, which will make it more difficult for their graduate students to find jobs. These graduate students full of vitality and fresh ideas are the main driving force for research.
For a long time, the changes in population structure have constituted downward pressure on university entry rates.Even though teachers in some areas (such as computer science) still see strong demand, for many other fields, the decline in the number of students will definitely lead to strengthening people and resist new technologies that save labor.
However, the biggest obstacle may be that the production can make students feel like a high -quality video course taught in person, and must pay extremely high costs.Even if only one lesson is made for mass consumption, it is an adventure and time -consuming approach.Moreover, because the recording courses are easily pirated, it may be difficult to charge enough tuition fees to pay for production costs.Many educational startups, many of which are located in the Boston region and their surroundings, are trying to solve these problems, but so far, it has not yet had a significant impact on the entire system.
Therefore, there is a reason to ask for the basic pre -record for some areas, or the cost of the materials of the online university lectures (can also be done by adult education courses). Should the US government be borne by the US government?In particular, non -political discipline entry online curriculum materials, such as mathematics, computer science, physics and accounting, should be the main candidate subjects for federal funding.
Many other disciplines, of course, have great online potential, including my own economics field.The US Democratic President's candidate Biden now speaks to support the college -free policy, which makes some professors feel excited.But instead of expanding the existing American university system, isn't the federal government funding online learning? Isn't it a more fair and effective progress?In particular, this can help adults in all ages.
Higher education gives students a series of important life skills and comprehending, can help them live a richer and fulfilling life, and also give them the opportunity to become better citizens.However, we don't know whether all aspects of higher education, including skill learning and social and intellectual development, must be tied together in the current way.Students need to gather together, but they may not be together every time.
Almost everyone agrees that expanding higher education opportunities is one of the best means to alleviate inequality. It can help society become more fair and improve productivity.Because the technology and globalization of the world today (maybe to go global), people need to have stronger adaptability, and may even need to be re -training to meet the changing labor market needs. Therefore, it is necessary to expand higher education opportunities.Essence
The crisis crisis is likely to cause our economic foundation to further change rapidly.But if the epidemic has also promoted the transition to higher quality and general higher education, then we don't have to fear these changes.
(The author Kenneth Rogoff is the former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, and is now a professor of economics and public policy at Harvard University.)
English Title: Will Universities Learn from Lockdowns?
Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2020
