The End of College audiobook cover - Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere

The End of College

Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere

Kevin Carey

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The End of College
Crisis of the Current System+
Evolution of the University+
The Three Founding Models+
The Hybrid University+
The University of Everywhere+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
According to the study by sociologists Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa, what is a major failing of the current American higher education system?
  • A. It fails to prepare students for specific vocational trades required by the modern economy.
  • B. Nearly half of enrolled students show no significant progress in fundamental disciplines like critical thinking after two years.
  • C. It places too much emphasis on online learning at the expense of traditional, in-person lectures.
  • D. The majority of students graduate with degrees that are entirely irrelevant to their chosen career paths.
Question 2 of 7
How did the first university, established in Bologna in 1088, differ significantly from modern universities?
  • A. It was entirely funded by the local government rather than through student tuition fees.
  • B. It focused exclusively on agricultural and mechanical arts to support the local economy.
  • C. It was founded and controlled by students, who hired teachers and enforced strict rules upon them.
  • D. It restricted attendance strictly to the wealthiest members of the nobility.
Question 3 of 7
What effect did Gutenberg's printing press have on the traditional university model?
  • A. It firmly cemented the university's business model because students still required expert instruction to understand the texts.
  • B. It dismantled the university's monopoly on education by making books universally accessible to the lower classes.
  • C. It shifted the balance of power from the professors back to the students by eliminating the need for lectures.
  • D. It caused the immediate closure of most traditional universities in Europe due to a lack of enrollment.
Question 4 of 7
Which of the following accurately matches one of the three founding principles of American universities with its originator or core focus?
  • A. The research university model, focused on agricultural training, based on the ideas of Wilhelm von Humboldt.
  • B. The land grant university model, focused on graduate scholarship, based on the Morrill Act.
  • C. The liberal arts model, focused on disseminating universal knowledge, based on the ideas of Cardinal Newman.
  • D. The hybrid university model, focused purely on job-focused training, based on the ideas of Charles William Eliot.
Question 5 of 7
What was Charles William Eliot's major contribution to the American university system?
  • A. He mandated that all universities must be publicly funded to ensure equal access for all students.
  • B. He created the hybrid model by merging liberal arts bachelor's degrees with specialized graduate research schools.
  • C. He created the 'University of Everywhere' by introducing the first recognized distance-learning programs.
  • D. He eliminated the elective system, requiring all undergraduates to take a rigid, standardized curriculum.
Question 6 of 7
According to the text, why do teaching faculty at modern hybrid universities often neglect undergraduate teaching?
  • A. They are economically incentivized to focus on research and publishing rather than teaching.
  • B. They are specifically hired only to supervise graduate students and are discouraged from interacting with undergraduates.
  • C. Undergraduate students are increasingly opting out of traditional lectures in favor of independent study.
  • D. They are required by state law to focus primarily on community service and administrative duties.
Question 7 of 7
What does the author consider the primary advantage of the 'University of Everywhere' over traditional hybrid universities?
  • A. It offers highly personalized, real-time customization of the learning experience by elite professors.
  • B. It provides unparalleled flexibility, allowing students to learn at their own pace, time, and location.
  • C. It guarantees job placement in the highly competitive tech industry upon completion of a course.
  • D. It maintains strict, synchronous schedules that ensure students do not fall behind in their coursework.

The End of College — Full Chapter Overview

The End of College Summary & Overview

The End of College (2015) is about the American higher education system. These blinks give a historical overview of how the author sees the development of the American university and its evolution from European models. He evaluates its current status and advocates for the University of Everywhere – a remotely accessible university of the future.

Who Should Listen to The End of College?

  • Students of public policy and education policy
  • People curious about online learning
  • Historians interested in higher education

About the Author: Kevin Carey

Kevin Carey directs the Education Policy Program at the nonprofit research organization New America. He has also taught education policy at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. He is a regular contributor to the New York Times and has written for publications such as Wired and Slate.

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