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Education Articles and Big Ideas

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BIG IDEA: Free America University

Higher education in America is a big business, built on an antiquated system. We still teach young Americans going to college the same way the Greeks did 5000 years ago. Yet our world is totally different. Work is rapidly transforming. The value of a knowledge worker based on what people know is being eroded as fast as the bank of a flooding river. Knowing anything anymore has only marginal value because we all share a common brain called Google. More than ever if you want to know something all you have to do is look it up. The real source of value in the future will be creativity, which arises from putting ideas together in novel ways. And wisdom, which is the insight to use imagination, knowledge and virtue to create the greatest total value for others.

There will always be a worldwide shortage of creativity and wisdom. As for teaching skills, post-secondary education is only the beginning. In every field, needed skills are transforming so rapidly, life-long learning is necessary. It is time to transform education.

Years ago, I was involved in a research project that proved a master teacher on video is more effective in creating genuine student learning than a mediocre teacher in the classroom. A new model was developed based on the idea that the best teachers in the world could be captured on video, integrated with documentary or other engaging story telling footage and create inspiring educational experiences. This form of education can be delivered over high-speed Internet connections. This is not old-fashioned eLearning, which is putting a textbook on a computer screen. This is exciting, state-of-the-art, fully engaging way of transmitting material to a new generation of students who learn visually as much as with their ears. Another thing we learned is that students learn the implications and applications of subjects, best by working on projects with small groups.

With America?s Free University, every student of every class would become part of a project team that would produce class projects of value to their communities. Every student would have access to online tutors. And in larger communities, live personal tutors would provide face-to-face enrichment. A full time student could earn an accredited bachelor degree, studying on his own time, at his own schedule within three years. Alliances with our nation?s premiere graduate schools will ensure an onramp for those interested in higher and post graduate degrees. The cost of this education would be absolutely free, although each student would make a small deposit for each class, the deposit would be returned, with interest when the class was completed. So what about the college experience? Free America University will have one of the most competitive basketball teams in the country. One that vies for the NCAA tournament title almost every year and the most exciting thing is FAU plays in communities throughout the country, every game will be a home game, because our massive student body will be distributed everywhere.

So, how can this university come into being? Will it take a Microsoft fortune to fund and maintain? Not at all. Think if Google married mySpace? What are the economic possibilities? It could become one of the most influential institutions in America. So when will it happen? We are working on it.