The Revolution In Higher Education

Tom Friedman has been glamorizing globalization for years.  In this article he joins the chorus of those who are pushing distance learning.  He personalizes his story by repeating a few of the success stories that he has picked up on his road show.  There is no doubt that technology makes it possible to deliver information to large numbers of students at low cost.  It is also clear that a lot of money is spent at universities on things other than academic learning.  Those who have worked on distance learning, however, understand the strengths and weaknesses.  Tom Friedman only sells the sizzle.  The "revolution" in higher education that Friedman is selling has a long way to go.  The colleges that he mentions in his article are well aware of the problems.  Hopefully, we will be able to remedy many of the problems, and make some form of higher education more available to those who otherwise would not have access to well packaged educational content.  Perhaps some of them will want to discuss their ideas with other students and professors in person.  It could become a good way to increase enrollments for some colleges.