3 ms·

It is somewhat comical hearing these $40k+ a year schools talking about what they perceive as a coming paradigm shift within academia. If people are taking free

by mparr4 16y ago

It is somewhat comical hearing these $40k+ a year schools talking about what they perceive as a coming paradigm shift within academia. If people are taking free courses online, or teaching themselves or others with the only cost being the time they put in, how could universities possibly make money off a situation like that? To me it seems that this shift isn't happening within academia, but is a shift away from academica. Who needs them anyway?

aik 16y ago
In my opinion the very definition of academia today is proof of its lack of necessity. And that is the exact reason why they need to change - and change, not be destroyed - there is much need for such institutions still. Even the most ardent self-learners can benefit from mentorship relationships, so that's where universities need to focus.
- mparr4 16y ago
  Why do we need academia for mentorships? Certainly academia is not useless (though I guess I was implying that in my previous post with the "Who needs them anyway?") but I do think that academic institutions will likely become less and less relevant. I'm currently in a PhD program studying Environmental Engineering and its so structured and balkanized and specialized that its really pretty ridiculous (and I'm at one of the more progressive, liberal Engineering programs in the country). It occurred to me that it would be incredibly interesting if, instead of having to research at Universities and thus, working within their outdated framework, what if people began researching at places like Google? What if companies like Google funded imaginative, interdisciplinary research? Stuff that gets bogged down in the highly procedural academia? I might try and think of a way to better articulate this idea and see what the HN community thinks of it...

3 ms·

It is somewhat comical hearing these $40k+ a year schools talking about what they perceive as a coming paradigm shift within academia. If people are taking free

by mparr4 16y ago

aik 16y ago
In my opinion the very definition of academia today is proof of its lack of necessity. And that is the exact reason why they need to change - and change, not be destroyed - there is much need for such institutions still. Even the most ardent self-learners can benefit from mentorship relationships, so that's where universities need to focus.
- mparr4 16y ago
  Why do we need academia for mentorships? Certainly academia is not useless (though I guess I was implying that in my previous post with the "Who needs them anyway?") but I do think that academic institutions will likely become less and less relevant. I'm currently in a PhD program studying Environmental Engineering and its so structured and balkanized and specialized that its really pretty ridiculous (and I'm at one of the more progressive, liberal Engineering programs in the country). It occurred to me that it would be incredibly interesting if, instead of having to research at Universities and thus, working within their outdated framework, what if people began researching at places like Google? What if companies like Google funded imaginative, interdisciplinary research? Stuff that gets bogged down in the highly procedural academia? I might try and think of a way to better articulate this idea and see what the HN community thinks of it...