“To improve learning, what do we need to do other than just automating it,” Oblinger asked. “What is quality? What does it look like? How do you measure it? Is the problem really the technology, or the inadequate use of the technology?”
And information technology is not just a concern for online universities she added. It can have an impact on physical campuses, as well.
If more students are watching lectures online, should universities replace massive lecture halls with more computer labs?
With the Department of Labor starting to track forms of accreditation lower than an associate’s degree, such as digital badges, what does that mean for traditional academic credits?
Should faculty encourage students to use digital textbooks, and then constantly track the data the book collects about each student via a digital dashboard? Can this data provide a better pathway for struggling students then a traditional college adviser?
“I don’t know the answers,” Oblinger said. “But there are things happening here that are worth serious discussion.”
Follow Jake New on Twitter at @eCN_Jake
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