The first item a reader must realize about this book is that both the author and the publisher are part of Kaplan Inc., a conglomerate devoted as a for-profit education system. This should not negate any message from the book, nor cause the reader to doubt the information. But it does reveal why so much of the book justifies its existence and tries to dispel supposed myths of for-profit education institutions.
Change.edu Rebooting for the New Talent Economy by Andrew S. Rosen is promoted as a book that delves into the future of education, and how hopefully every adult educator's dream would come true - that all programs would be tailored to the specific student's needs while being accessible to all. But followers of Paolo Freire should not rejoice just yet. Unfortunately, only a very small section of the book actually deals with this possibility, and of course not in any fashion as to how.
Comparison of Public and Private Institutions
What this book does do however, is take a hard look at higher education from both a historical perspective as well as a financial comparison of public and private education institutes. There is a significant amount of space given to the tearing down of ivory towers and the condemning of universities that now only cater to the very rich (due to rising tuition costs, whereby named higher education places are no longer accessible to even the upper middle class). Social implications of this crisis are discussed with an eye to society's maturity, change, as well as economic proponents.
Well Researched
While the book is well researched with accompanying endnotes, the introduction starts off with what can only be assumed is a caricature of an ideal new all-american student attending Berkeley. There are no notes to qualify this student's background or stated remarks, and there is no qualifying disclaimer that most of the "students" mentioned with names are composites of others/made up. This leaves the reader to either blatantly accept the student as real, or realize the author purposely does not say anything and hope the reader is duped. Not a good beginning.
Changes are Happening Now
Yet the book does offer some excellent insight into the current higher education system, and offers some emerging trends. However, these changes are happening NOW, not within 25 years, as most educators working within the system already know and are applying (learning outcomes, blended and asynchronous classes, etc.)
Kaplan Inc. is well known for its innovative approach to higher education as well as providing education help/tutoring for certifications; this book needs editing and a different promotional slant to meet the standards set by Kaplan.
Book courtesy of FSB Associates.
Sources:
Rosen, Andrew S. Change.edu Rebooting for the new talent economy. New York, NY USA: Kaplan Publishing, 2011
ISBN:978-1-60714-441-0
Paym Bergson - Paym Bergson - freelance entrepreneur & career coach with extensive experience working in the educational/professional development ...
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