posted message: Greetings from Indianapolis! This morning's issue of Inside Higher Education has a very interesting article on an arrangement between Coursera and Antioch University to offer MOOCs for credit (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/29/coursera-strikes-mooc-licensing-deal-antioch-university). What I like about this model is that assigning and role of a faculty adviser (more like an independent study supervisor): "As part of the arrangement, the students are paired with an Antioch faculty member who will serve as a sort of independent study adviser, discussing the material regularly and assigning some supplemental work."

posted message: Interesting news about competency-based education, including preview for a statement from DOE: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/10/01/competency-based-education-may-get-boost

posted message: The National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment will be holding a webinar on Oct. 5 on assessment and the Degree Qualifications Profile. I believe it is free. If you are interested in the webinar, please go to this website for more information: http://www.learningoutcomesassessment.org/

posted message: An interesting article that Daphne Pham found: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/21/education/mechanical-mooc-to-rely-on-free-learning-sites.html?_r=1 It sounds like the mechanical MOOC is following some of the same premises as the Flexible degree program, with an innovative way to provide support to students to help them complete the course.

posted message: A couple of weeks ago I attended a meeting of the System Advisory Group for the Liberal Arts where the main topic of conversation was the flexible degree. I'm including some of my notes. Kevin Reilly, Ray Cross, and Mark Nook as well as Debra Humphreys (AAC&U) were at the meeting. They all emphasized the importance of a liberal arts education, highlighting this as an integrative experience. The System shared learning goals were expected to be a part of any flexible degree program. Reilly was interested in a mini-conference that would involve talking with business leaders. Also, developing discipline teams to look into how to develop a flexible degree program was discussed (the consortial nursing program was mentioned as an example).

posted message: FYI, article on the relationship between holding a college degree and employment: http://chronicle.com/blogs/headcount/in-economic-storm-a-college-degree-is-still-the-best-umbrella/31187?cid=at&utm_source=at&utm_medium=en

posted message: An interesting article on MOOC's and credentialing from 'Inside Higher Ed': http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2012/08/09/real-economics-massive-online-courses-essay As a quick summary, the article addresses the dilemma of 'elite' institutions in offering MOOC's and the 'need' for credentialing to be economically viable while still trying to maintain 'quality control' over learning. There are some references to the use of prior learning assessment as one way to address this issue.

posted message: I've mentioned the Lumina Foundation's Degree Qualifications Profile before and its possible relevance to a flexible degree program. There is a booklet published by the Lumina Foundation on the DQP. The Provost's office has ordered a few copies of these booklets and they are now in. You can either drop by Julie Lee's desk to pick up a copy or contact Julie to ask for one to be sent to you. (FYI, you can also read the booklet online: http://www.luminafoundation.org/publications/The_Degree_Qualifications_Profile.pdf).

posted comment at Post your questions about the Flexible Degree Option here.

posted comment at The UW Flexible Degree Option Concept.

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posted comment at Exploring the frontiers of DIY education.

posted comment at Post your questions about the Flexible Degree Option here.

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posted comment at The UW Flexible Degree Option Concept.