Dive Brief:
- U.S. Department of Education Office of Technology Director Joseph South discussed "Seven Assumptions About Students," during the department's "Reimagining Higher Education" forum held Thursday at Georgetown University.
- The assumptions revolved around student awareness and access to improving educational outcomes.
- The forum offered student and administrative perspectives on how to integrate MOOCs, learning and research technology and degree options to promote greater student access.
Dive Insight:
South's presentation offered unique ideas about how to cut through assumptions about student engagement, awareness and completion with the use of technology.
But most colleges and universities actively seeking diversity among their student body understand the challenges associated with attracting and retaining low-income or minority students who may be entering college without rigorous academic exposure at the secondary level.
Instead of focusing on the assumptions college leaders make about student access, time and resources may be better spent creating the awareness and engagement necessary to breed success in college, starting while students are in high school.
Using social media and scaled-versions of MOOCs in direct contact with feeder schools in strategic secondary systems, colleges can begin the conversations about higher learning which can cut through lack of awareness among students and families.