October 10, 2007: It’s a beautiful day here in south central Virginia. We have had record high temperatures the past several days but it looks like fall weather will be returning for the weekend. And do you know what that means? It means this Saturday will be a picture perfect day for college football and I will be sitting in section 522 at Scott Stadium on the campus of the University of Virginia watching UVA play UConn. I will refrain from commenting in this particular post about my predictions for the game.
I have always been a college sports fan even while growing up in Boston although, of course, the Sox, Celtics, and Patriots ruled. My oldest son, Shaun Jr. graduated from UVA in 2003 and because he was the first child to leave home my wife and I started attending their football games as a way to see my son. Now my wife enjoys everything about the game day experience and she is even learning the ins and outs of the game. I am such a lucky guy!
I have attached a picture of my son, Paul, and his wife Lindsey, and their first child and my first grandchild, Madison Grace. As you can see, the picture was taken at a recent UVA game. I am starting her young.
I was thinking today about what education will look like when Madison is ready for college. My wife and I have put our two oldest sons through college, my daughter graduates this coming May, and my youngest son is a freshman this year. I have seen firsthand changes in educational delivery modes and methods, an increase in online collaboration, and tightening of college and university budgets (which equates in most cases to increased tuition costs.)
What will the educational landscape look like in 18 years? I am by no means a futurist, but I do see the acceptance of online learning increasing even in traditional settings. I have been pleasantly surprised at the adoption of online course management software, advances in online curriculum design, and increases in the number of students both brick and click, who are studying in some capacity online.
Online learning is here to stay and by the way, “Go Hoos!”
Shaun