  | Book Details Title: Academia Next: The Futures of Higher Education |
Book DescriptionReview “Institutions of higher education need to be reimagined, and there is no better student of the future of higher ed than Bryan Alexander. The test of any futurist is his or her track record, and so far, Alexander has been a beacon of light in the murky field of educational forecasting.” (Howard Rheingold, Rheingold U, author of Smart Mobs: The Next Social Revolution)”Using environment scanning and the scenario method, Alexander weaves together various trends in higher education, giving us an expanded―and more realistic―picture of what may come in the future. He is also clear about how these scenarios will impact different segments of higher education. This book will be read by university presidents, administrators, boards of trustees, faculty, policymakers, foundation directors, educational journalists, and educational entrepreneurs.” (David J. Staley, The Ohio State University, author of Alternative Universities: Speculative Design for Innovation in Higher Education)”Bryan Alexander has thought longer and more penetratingly about the future of education than anyone I know. Academia Next is the capstone of all that work. At once, it is a practical guide for those who would reinvent colleges and universities as well as a richly researched exploration of the forces that will reshape our world. From this day forth, no one will be able to say that they haven’t been warned about what’s ahead and haven’t been schooled how to deal with it.” (Lee Rainie, Pew Research Center, coauthor of Networked: The New Social Operating System)”In a time of great flux for colleges and universities, Bryan Alexander provides a clear-eyed view of the forces at work, the major shifts happening online and off, and the large-scale trends that are impacting the world of education. While there are no easy answers, Alexander asks exactly the right questions and provides the essential context for anyone who cares about the academy to begin to adapt to the future that is already frighteningly close.” (Dan Cohen, Vice Provost for Information Collaboration / Dean, University Library, Northeastern University)”With his usual generosity and clarity of expression, Alexander invites us to imagine not only what futures of higher education may come but what futures we want.” (Anya Kamenetz, NPR, author of DIY U: Edupunks, Edupreneurs, and the Coming Transformation of Higher Education)”Unlike many futurists, Bryan Alexander grounds his views of the future in careful assessment of the past and present. The range of his documentation is breathtaking and the result is a more credible and authoritative book than the glib generalizations offered by others. This book will be the reference point for forecasting about higher education for many years to come.” (Richard Ekman, President, The Council of Independent Colleges)”Alexander’s book is ambitious at a moment when we need ambition. Exhaustively researched and accessibly written, it’s a challenge to those of us who care about higher education to raise our sights while we still have the option. Alexander’s critique is sympathetic but unsparing; I gasped several times as I read it. It’s bracing, in the best sense of the word.” (Matthew Reed, Vice President for Learning, Brookdale Community College)”Elegant and compelling, Academia Next explains how political, economic, technological, and cultural trends will combine to produce the educational institutions of the future. It is essential reading for anyone who wants to know what learning will look like in decades to come.” (Michelle Miller, Director, First Year Learning Initiative / Professor, Department of Psychological Sciences, Northern Arizona University)”Higher education isn’t at a crossroads―it is at a traffic circle with multiple exits! The majority of students recognize the value of post-secondary education and are open to obtaining an education in unconventional and innovative ways. In a world of abundant information, higher education institutions need to transition from distributing data to providing students the opportunity to create intelligence and original ideas from the world’s information. In this critical book, Bryan Alexander examines the future of American higher education. He methodically examines data-based forecasts and trends and gives post-secondary education leaders the intelligence they need to navigate the future of learning. Anyone concerned about the future of higher education in the United States needs to read this book.” (Jaime Casap, Education Evangelist) Read more Book Description How will current trends transform American higher education over the course of the next twenty years? Read more About the Author Bryan Alexander is an internationally known futurist, researcher, writer, speaker, consultant, and teacher. A senior scholar at Georgetown University, he is the author of The New Digital Storytelling: Creating Narratives with New Media and Gearing Up for Learning Beyond K–12. Read more Customers Review: I was unfamiliar with tis author until a colleague suggested I read the book,Alexander is a gifted writer and thinker.I believe every trustee should read this book to better understand the complexities of higher education and where it is goingThe President’s cabinet and Faculty leaders would be better informed after reading this book.One of the very best books I have read, ever.Thanks.Patrick Sanaghan
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2 reviews