Some of the ideas expressed in that clip have been kicked around here for quite some time and so none of it was a real shock. Our members are well educated and well informed on issues related to higher education and so it's not a surprise that they are somewhat ahead of the curve in regards to awareness in that area. They only gave a hint at the answer to the question "Why is the inflation rate higher in higher ed than anywhere (anything) else and I would have liked to hear more about just where all the money is going. Also, the piece about the government making such a profit off student loans is something that could use more light. In general it seems to stand in stark relief to our recent thread regarding the elimination of tuition at German universities and highlights the interest in low cost degrees such as from South Africa.
I know the ideas have been kicked around this forum for sometime but this documentary was made in 2013 and published in 2014. That's why I shared it. They did not use the term "Distance Learning" although it was implied when they discussed MOOCS.
I'm not surprised by Rossi's comments that developmental students/undergrads perhaps did better in a class while older/masters students tended to THRIVE using MOCS. One thing he might talk about in the film (I haven't seen it) is the student loan reform in 2005 that caused all this crap. By eliminating bankruptcy as an option, colleges could raise tuition at any rate that suited them. I believe I read last week that if a gallon of milk increased at the same rate as tuition since 2005, that it would be something like $28/gallon by now. Tuition increases go unchecked and protected. Scary.
I thought the reform only applied to private student loans and that one could already not discharge federal loans in bankruptcy. 85% of student loans are federal loans. For those who don't like Huffington Post. Obama Administration Backs Bankruptcy Option for Some Student Debt - WSJ
