The world of massive open online courses, or MOOCs, is roiling academia at universities in the United States, where they are labeled either the future or the downfall of higher education.
A few superstar professors pull in upward of 10,000 students around the globe into free, or nearly free, courses. But others perceive the courses as a dangerous fad that will shrink faculties, turn existing professors into glorified teaching assistants and replace meaningful classroom discussion with message boards and student-led forums.
Lost in the debate about online learning, however, is its impact in far-flung regions of the globe, places like the electrical engineering department at the University of El Salvador and the modest walk-up apartment of the Palacios family, above the medical clinic of Dr. Roberto Palacios Navarro, Roosemberth’s father.
“At school, he hardly studies. He just shows up and takes the exams,” Palacios said of his son. But it isn’t for lack of ambition. “He wants to learn,” he said.McClatchyDC
Added the son: “I don’t like simple things.”
Latin America becoming fertile ground for online university courses
Tim Johnson — McClatchy Foreign Staff
Universities are bustling with young people eager to learn and it is hard to imagine the campuses turning into ghost towns like I'm sure the old factories in the 1960s seemed indomitable and an integral part of society to the workers. By the 80's they were all gone and by 2000 were a distant memory. For sure, the change won't happen by tomorrow, but I suspect it will be much, much sooner than when 90% of current professors whom will be laid off in the decade or two ahead probably want to retire or end their careers. Those who are in denial should do themselves a favor and enroll in a class that interests them or something they need to learn. I suspect after they have, they too will understand why students are choosing to go this route. Public schools can't be too far behind either. The big school districts with rigid curricula give little flexibility to teachers currently, it maybe beneficial to further control the class experience and ensure the highest quality delivery to give every student a better chance at success.
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