"Because of the way this was developed virtually in secret, rather than being discussed widely by post-secondary education experts familiar with the UW System's strengths and weaknesses"
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LOL. I guess UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW Extension Chancellor Ray Cross are just not understanding enough to pass muster for some partisan hacks.

charlie12, there are many unanswered questions about this proposal and concrete responses may be impossible at this time. Because of the way this was developed virtually in secret, rather than being discussed widely by post-secondary education experts familiar with the UW System's strengths and weaknesses, means that this proposal is little more than a stab in the dark utilizing some buzzwords. But the Walker-compliant press was sure ready to tout it as a watershed change.

They also have opportunities available to test out certain classes and have tests you can take for life experience credit toward a degree.

What is the difference between the program Governor Walker just announced and the online degree programs already available through the UW system? I am currently enrolled in the Bachelor degree program online offered through the UW Platteville. My previous college credits all transferred and I am working on a Bachelors in Business Administration. They offer other online Bachelor's degree programs as well. They also offer a print based format. This has been available for several years. Additionally, you can get your Associate's degree through UWColleges online. I am very interested to know what the differences are in the programs already in place and the announced offerings made by Governor Walker. If there is a different fee schedule or if there is a special grant or loan program I would like to know where to find this information.

I could support this in principle if it were developed in a responsible manner with sufficient public input and a pilot program to test its viability. Since public input is anathema to Walker and most proposals come out of the blue rather than having discussion and consideration by stakeholders, it's probably going to be an utter fiasco -- something like the no-longer-answerable-to-anyone-but-Walker WEDC barrelling ahead and promising subsidized contract guarantees to a private vendor before the contracts were even bid out. Yeah, that's gonna work well.

illdrink....I agree! And I have bachelor and master degrees.

Any changes that lead to learning are always good. Those stuck on a one-track is the only path method are part of what is wrong with our education system.

Formal education is overrated....

learning is not.

I am on the fence about this. In college, I learned a lot of really valuable things that weren't explicitly listed on the class syllabus. I had an opportunity to work on projects that wouldn't necessarily have been trusted to someone with my level of experience or education in the traditional workplace. I don't think I would be where I am right now without some of that classroom experience.
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However, just because I may not have had the opportunity to learn these things in the 'real world' does not mean that it is impossible to do so. I have learned much more in-depth information about my specific field outside of the classroom. The functional knowledge I have gained in the workplace is invaluable.
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If they can come up with adequate tests to show that someone has learned as much, or more, of these diverse skills outside of the traditional classroom, then I'm sure the program will be a smashing success. I suspect that will be much harder than it sounds though.

I think this is the ONLY way Walker will actually get a college degree.

Forgetting for the moment I don't trust ANYTHING Walker supports, I worry that this will devalue the concept of a college degree. Yes, people should get 'credit' for what they learn from life. But that is simply NOT the same thing as an academic degree, and the corresponding educational value.

I think it's a good idea, but my evil side wonders if it's a ploy to pad the numbers of graduates in the state to help attract companies.
Still, I think everyone in the world should be made aware a Udacity. I believe Udacity will transform the higher education system in this country, and around the world.

From Marginalrevolution.com
"…there were more students in [Thrun's] course from Lithuania alone than there are students at Stanford altogether. There were students in Afghanistan, exfiltrating war zones to grab an hour of connectivity to finish the homework assignments. There were single mothers keeping the faith and staying with the course even as their families were being hit by tragedy. And when it finished, thousands of students around the world were educated and inspired. Some 248 of them, in total, got a perfect score: they never got a single question wrong, over the entire course of the class. All 248 took the course online; not one was enrolled at Stanford."


The Do It Yourself Scholar
http://diyscholar.wordpress.com/2012/01/...