Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Are buildings still a good investment for universities?

This is just a note, bit bigger than a tweet.

Not sure where this week will end up on radio. Thursday I hope to talk to the Storyteller about a fiction drama located on Lancaster campus. So this post is a reminder about reality.

The MOOC is better thought of now than a while ago. LEarning happens anyway as part of social media but this still not integrated with academic scene.

Futurelearn seems to be getting closer to income streams. Working with Deakin so model will reach UK sometime. See recent story in EdSurge for more.

If online education is seen as viable, when will there be a question about buildings? So far much investment has been in the campus, some of it iconic. This will continue and to make interesting video we need good sets. But presumably Deakin spend on IBM Watson funds that are not spent on bricks. The OU has closed regional centres and spent more on FutureLearn so far. When will this be seen as sensible, and what follows?

More later.

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Polly Toynbee, BBC , Soft Fleet Street

Just catching up on TV, missed it this morning.

Andrew Marr on YouTube already with Jeremy Corbyn interview.

Sunday Politics on BBC catchup.

Polly Toynbee as balance between the Sun and the Spectator. Difference of view on Jeremy Corbyn? Not a lot.

Would Labour use a drone against ISIS? Will the USA request such a thing? It may turn out that the relevant issues during the election are not those supposed by the Fleet Street / BBC news operation.

Andrew Marr claimed that Corbyn and May similar on Brexit as both want a Single Market. Who is sure about this? Who has eaten the cake and or kept it? Surely May will be asked some questions later.

But Guardian columnists mostly just knocking Corbyn one would guess.