Looking Back to the Future of Education

Abstract

Everywhere I turn, there seems to be a new bandwagon waiting with bold claims on how it will save the humanities. I'm curious. I'm excited. I'm also weary.The MOOC (massive open online course) explosion happened, and I participated with glee. It let no revolution in its wake. I love the deeply interdisciplinary and interactive shape of life for students at Design Tech High School in Silicon Valley but fear there's a dark side to Oracle's bankrolling it with upward of $43 million. And, in the bloating of middle management and infusion of cash into e.learning units on campuses across the country, we might be seeing “management theorists” lurking in sheep's clothes out to create a workforceready. only population. I worry for the twenty-two million students served in college—and especially all the rest not being served.