Competition from New Models of Education
Excerpt from the Horizon's Report Preview
New models of education are bringing unprecedented competition to the traditional models of
education. Across the board, institutions are looking for ways to provide a high quality of service and
more learning opportunities. Massive open online courses (MOOCs) are at the forefront of these
discussions, enabling students to supplement their education and experiences at brick-and-mortar
institutions with increasingly rich, and often free, online offerings. At the same time, issues have arisen
related to the low completion rates of some MOOCs. As these new platforms emerge, there is a
growing need to frankly evaluate the models and determine how to best support collaboration,
interaction, and assessment at scale. Simply capitalizing on new technology is not enough; the new
models must use these tools and services to engage students on a deeper level.
With these new models of education we must always keep students in the forefront. What is best for the students? With any new models there will be scepticism and hesitation. This scepticism and hesitation should not be taken as something bad. Educators need the time and resources to evaluate these new models and determine if they are truly best for student learning.
