Thursday, September 19, 2013
MOOCs (Massively Open Online Courses) are all the rage in many quarters of the higher education "industry." The Chronicle of Higher Education recently published an article by Jonathan Malesic, a theology professor at Kings College in Pa. titled "A Catholic Case Against MOOCs:"
There is one way in which MOOCs seem to line up with a major historical goal of Catholic universities: They offer access to college-level instruction for people who have been excluded because of poverty, remoteness, or others' prejudice. But the altruistic promise of MOOCs has been empty so far.
Catholic organizations have known for a long time that to educate the poor, you have to go to them. In fact, to educate anyone fully—addressing their moral and spiritual development as well as their intellect—teachers and students must be present to each other.
This article drives at the heart of a debate we should be having over what is the purpose of education. Are we selling a product that is bought by our customers - the students. Or, is it a moral enterprise aimed at developing the whole person.
HT: Kevin Lee