Per my last post regarding the impending recalibration of the bricks and mortar university model, I perused the site mentioned in the article I cited:
http://www.straighterline.com/
It seems pretty interesting. For a $99 monthly fee, you can take unlimited courses (with a $39 per course fee), or you can take an entire freshman year for $999.00. Credits seem to transfer to a number of different institutions (both traditional and online).
Could be a nice, affordable way for college bound students to get all those pre-reqs out of the way in an affordable manner (and on their own schedule). Check it out...
Be careful with these offers. You know the old saying about things being too good to be true. The issue with these types of colleges is that they may not be accredited (by the right agency) and therefore the credits would not count (waste of time and money). Don't ever believe what is told to you unless you have it in writing! In addition, unless the college is part of the NJ Transfer agreement, you are not guaranteed any of the credits will transfer. It depends on the college and the program!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.njtransfer.org/index.asp?mu=menu_student&mn=schools&vmode=student
Agreed, Dr. Z! I am not espousing diving into this concept blindly. I am merely posting it to call attention to what I (in my humble opinion) feel is the new paradigm in web-based learning. I truly think the university system faces big challenges in convincing this generation and those that follow to spend exorbitant amounts of money on an education that results in a career that is spent paying for it (it's a strange cannibalistic cycle).
ReplyDeleteI also read recently that those without degrees weathered this recent economic downturn better than individuals with one. I'm not sure how true that is, but I feel it must call into question the pedestal on which society has put a degree. Additionally, we have placed such importance on college (which is a business unto itself) that we have largely neglected trades and manufacturing, sending these skills overseas in many cases. Now, we're scrambling as a nation to reassert ourselves in these arenas.