At edX, Distance Learning Moves to an Open-Source Honors Track

[jody]

4. Addendum to #1

Traditional classroom colleges are an anachronism because distance education is just as effective, cheaper and more accessible except perhaps for rigorous topics like sciences, mathematics and technologies.

Nationally recognized accrediting agencies have already established required courses and rigorous topics for most degrees with job opportunities.

Students should choose one degree with job opportunities, and taxpayers should fund only required courses for that degree, classroom courses for rigorous topics and distance education for all others. Students should pay for all general studies courses.

Accredited colleges, public or private, could offer courses at an established price like Medicare rates. Students could choose from those courses and taxpayers would pay only if a grade of “C” or better is earned.

A student’s state university system would award a degree when required courses are completed regardless of where they are taken.