tonight I wanted to tell you about my trip to the University of Bologna this
trip to the University of Bologna this
trip to the University of Bologna this summer I went back to the University of
summer I went back to the University of
summer I went back to the University of Bologna to give a research paper and was
Bologna to give a research paper and was
Bologna to give a research paper and was completely in my element because it was
completely in my element because it was
completely in my element because it was a college town and I grew up in college
a college town and I grew up in college
a college town and I grew up in college towns you kind of know what I’m talking
towns you kind of know what I’m talking
towns you kind of know what I’m talking about I think and you know it was full
about I think and you know it was full
about I think and you know it was full of students who are talking about
of students who are talking about
of students who are talking about politics and philosophy and particle
politics and philosophy and particle
politics and philosophy and particle physics and of course soccer at every
physics and of course soccer at every
physics and of course soccer at every possible moment and they were showing
possible moment and they were showing
possible moment and they were showing off the discoveries of new books they’d
off the discoveries of new books they’d
off the discoveries of new books they’d found in these in these used bookstores
found in these in these used bookstores
found in these in these used bookstores and it felt like exactly the kind of
and it felt like exactly the kind of
and it felt like exactly the kind of learning environment I grew up in as a
learning environment I grew up in as a
learning environment I grew up in as a child of university professors as a
child of university professors as a
child of university professors as a lifelong member of the university
lifelong member of the university
lifelong member of the university population and it was reassuring in fact
population and it was reassuring in fact
population and it was reassuring in fact I had gone back to the University of
I had gone back to the University of
I had gone back to the University of Bologna precisely for that reassurance
Bologna precisely for that reassurance
Bologna precisely for that reassurance because I’ve been become increasingly
because I’ve been become increasingly
because I’ve been become increasingly worried about the state of modern higher
worried about the state of modern higher
worried about the state of modern higher education for the last 15 years and the
education for the last 15 years and the
education for the last 15 years and the University of Bologna was the first
University of Bologna was the first
University of Bologna was the first University the first college town the
University the first college town the
University the first college town the place where everything started being
place where everything started being
place where everything started being mixed in with all of the students
mixed in with all of the students
mixed in with all of the students hearing all of their discussions and
hearing all of their discussions and
hearing all of their discussions and feeling the solidity and the millennial
feeling the solidity and the millennial
feeling the solidity and the millennial nature of this institution made me start
nature of this institution made me start
nature of this institution made me start thinking well okay maybe we’re okay
thinking well okay maybe we’re okay
thinking well okay maybe we’re okay maybe universities will just last
maybe universities will just last
maybe universities will just last forever because it seems like they’ve
forever because it seems like they’ve
forever because it seems like they’ve lasted for a long time so far you know
lasted for a long time so far you know
lasted for a long time so far you know when the University of Bologna started
when the University of Bologna started
when the University of Bologna started in the 9th century it was really just a
in the 9th century it was really just a
in the 9th century it was really just a gathering of people who showed up from
gathering of people who showed up from
gathering of people who showed up from all over because there were a lot of
all over because there were a lot of
all over because there were a lot of people who wanted to learn something and
people who wanted to learn something and
people who wanted to learn something and a lot of people who wanted to teach
a lot of people who wanted to teach
a lot of people who wanted to teach something so the university didn’t
something so the university didn’t
something so the university didn’t really become a university until several
really become a university until several
really become a university until several hundred years after a gathering a
hundred years after a gathering a
hundred years after a gathering a happening a plurality of learners who
happening a plurality of learners who
happening a plurality of learners who joined at the crossroads of the two
joined at the crossroads of the two
joined at the crossroads of the two major trade routes in Northern Europe so
major trade routes in Northern Europe so
major trade routes in Northern Europe so people exchanging information from from
people exchanging information from from
people exchanging information from from Europe to the East and from Italy to the
Europe to the East and from Italy to the
Europe to the East and from Italy to the populations north of the Alps this is
populations north of the Alps this is
populations north of the Alps this is the most incredible university seal ever
the most incredible university seal ever
the most incredible university seal ever an incident
an incident
an incident it’s also it was invented in the 19th
it’s also it was invented in the 19th
it’s also it was invented in the 19th century this isn’t what it originally
century this isn’t what it originally
century this isn’t what it originally looked like they needed a seal so it’s
looked like they needed a seal so it’s
looked like they needed a seal so it’s off by a couple hundred years but the
off by a couple hundred years but the
off by a couple hundred years but the alma mater through the autumn the the
alma mater through the autumn the the
alma mater through the autumn the the alma mater of all alma mater
alma mater of all alma mater
alma mater of all alma mater institutions started as a collective of
institutions started as a collective of
institutions started as a collective of students referring to themselves as
students referring to themselves as
students referring to themselves as Universitas because they came from all
Universitas because they came from all
Universitas because they came from all different nations it was a collective
different nations it was a collective
different nations it was a collective bargaining Society which allowed them to
bargaining Society which allowed them to
bargaining Society which allowed them to hire instructors to teach exactly what
hire instructors to teach exactly what
hire instructors to teach exactly what they wanted to learn during exactly the
they wanted to learn during exactly the
they wanted to learn during exactly the time period they wanted to learn it they
time period they wanted to learn it they
time period they wanted to learn it they had very strict and high standards about
had very strict and high standards about
had very strict and high standards about faculty for example if you couldn’t fill
faculty for example if you couldn’t fill
faculty for example if you couldn’t fill an auditorium you clearly were terrible
an auditorium you clearly were terrible
an auditorium you clearly were terrible and you were fired if everybody slept
and you were fired if everybody slept
and you were fired if everybody slept through your lecture then you were fired
through your lecture then you were fired
through your lecture then you were fired and if you didn’t know your material you
and if you didn’t know your material you
and if you didn’t know your material you guessed it you were fired so it was a
guessed it you were fired so it was a
guessed it you were fired so it was a pretty rough time for academics and yet
pretty rough time for academics and yet
pretty rough time for academics and yet it was an incredible time for learners
it was an incredible time for learners
it was an incredible time for learners like Plato’s Grove this was a university
like Plato’s Grove this was a university
like Plato’s Grove this was a university without diplomas credentials this was a
without diplomas credentials this was a
without diplomas credentials this was a university without a curriculum students
university without a curriculum students
university without a curriculum students designed it themselves
designed it themselves
designed it themselves this was a university without that
this was a university without that
this was a university without that incredibly complex course description
incredibly complex course description
incredibly complex course description which explains how you get from your
which explains how you get from your
which explains how you get from your first semester all the way to graduation
first semester all the way to graduation
first semester all the way to graduation in only four years also like I said it
in only four years also like I said it
in only four years also like I said it was a university without a seal until
was a university without a seal until
was a university without a seal until they came up with one that nobody else
they came up with one that nobody else
they came up with one that nobody else can top university classes were pretty
can top university classes were pretty
can top university classes were pretty much the way University classes are now
much the way University classes are now
much the way University classes are now which is also a puzzle why are we still
which is also a puzzle why are we still
which is also a puzzle why are we still teaching the way we did a millennium ago
teaching the way we did a millennium ago
teaching the way we did a millennium ago you may even notice that there are some
you may even notice that there are some
you may even notice that there are some students talking to each other
students talking to each other
students talking to each other and somebody’s asleep right which
and somebody’s asleep right which
and somebody’s asleep right which I see you out there too okay anyway but
I see you out there too okay anyway but
I see you out there too okay anyway but you know fundamentally we haven’t
you know fundamentally we haven’t
you know fundamentally we haven’t changed the way we teach since that time
changed the way we teach since that time
changed the way we teach since that time and this is proof now the only
and this is proof now the only
and this is proof now the only difference is that there are a lot more
difference is that there are a lot more
difference is that there are a lot more distractions for students in the
distractions for students in the
distractions for students in the classroom so let me tell you what keeps
classroom so let me tell you what keeps
classroom so let me tell you what keeps me up at night because I really truly am
me up at night because I really truly am
me up at night because I really truly am worried about the modern university
worried about the modern university
worried about the modern university about my home the first problem is
about my home the first problem is
about my home the first problem is universities are exclusive in fact we’re
universities are exclusive in fact we’re
universities are exclusive in fact we’re ranked primarily on the basis of how
ranked primarily on the basis of how
ranked primarily on the basis of how many people we don’t accept universities
many people we don’t accept universities
many people we don’t accept universities are largely research oriented therefore
are largely research oriented therefore
are largely research oriented therefore faculty rewarded for lots of research
faculty rewarded for lots of research
faculty rewarded for lots of research and yet have very little training when
and yet have very little training when
and yet have very little training when they come in on how learners learn and
they come in on how learners learn and
they come in on how learners learn and most heartbreakingly of all universities
most heartbreakingly of all universities
most heartbreakingly of all universities are really really expensive at an
are really really expensive at an
are really really expensive at an average of twenty thousand dollars a
average of twenty thousand dollars a
average of twenty thousand dollars a year for a public four-year institution
year for a public four-year institution
year for a public four-year institution forty thousand dollars a year for a
forty thousand dollars a year for a
forty thousand dollars a year for a private four-year institution
private four-year institution
private four-year institution the average university student loan debt
the average university student loan debt
the average university student loan debt is thirty thousand dollars and that
is thirty thousand dollars and that
is thirty thousand dollars and that doesn’t even that that includes the
doesn’t even that that includes the
doesn’t even that that includes the fifty percent of students who don’t even
fifty percent of students who don’t even
fifty percent of students who don’t even get the degree by the time they’re done
get the degree by the time they’re done
get the degree by the time they’re done the other thing that is problematic to
the other thing that is problematic to
the other thing that is problematic to me and probably keeps me up even more
me and probably keeps me up even more
me and probably keeps me up even more nights is the fact that universities
nights is the fact that universities
nights is the fact that universities have become remarkably complacent yes we
have become remarkably complacent yes we
have become remarkably complacent yes we deliver wonderful face-to-face
deliver wonderful face-to-face
deliver wonderful face-to-face engagement yes we have people who do
engagement yes we have people who do
engagement yes we have people who do lots of great research and we share
lots of great research and we share
lots of great research and we share information with our students and we
information with our students and we
information with our students and we care about our students and yet waiting
care about our students and yet waiting
care about our students and yet waiting in the wings have been a number of
in the wings have been a number of
in the wings have been a number of really well-funded high-tech companies
really well-funded high-tech companies
really well-funded high-tech companies in Silicon Valley looking at us sitting
in Silicon Valley looking at us sitting
in Silicon Valley looking at us sitting on a four point six trillion dollar
on a four point six trillion dollar
on a four point six trillion dollar global education market now tell me that
global education market now tell me that
global education market now tell me that isn’t a target worth disrupting the
isn’t a target worth disrupting the
isn’t a target worth disrupting the first big disruption started in 2011
first big disruption started in 2011
first big disruption started in 2011 with the announcement of a MOOC a
with the announcement of a MOOC a
with the announcement of a MOOC a massively open online course that was
massively open online course that was
massively open online course that was taught at Stanford University a hundred
taught at Stanford University a hundred
taught at Stanford University a hundred and twenty thousand students worldwide
and twenty thousand students worldwide
and twenty thousand students worldwide took it Wow and then universities
took it Wow and then universities
took it Wow and then universities pointed out yeah but only two percent
pointed out yeah but only two percent
pointed out yeah but only two percent completed it you know what I’ll bet you
completed it you know what I’ll bet you
completed it you know what I’ll bet you if all of those hundred and twenty
if all of those hundred and twenty
if all of those hundred and twenty thousand had been given a Stanford
thousand had been given a Stanford
thousand had been given a Stanford credit for taking the course
credit for taking the course
credit for taking the course you would have seen a lot more
you would have seen a lot more
you would have seen a lot more completion rate so Coursera EDX
completion rate so Coursera EDX
completion rate so Coursera EDX Udacity have all started to develop
Udacity have all started to develop
Udacity have all started to develop courses well we’ve not paid as much
courses well we’ve not paid as much
courses well we’ve not paid as much attention as we should have using new
attention as we should have using new
attention as we should have using new methods of data gathering so every
methods of data gathering so every
methods of data gathering so every single learner that they have is
single learner that they have is
single learner that they have is generating big data all of those big
generating big data all of those big
generating big data all of those big data are informing much more accurate
data are informing much more accurate
data are informing much more accurate algorithms and those algorithms are
algorithms and those algorithms are
algorithms and those algorithms are outputting classes which are in fact
outputting classes which are in fact
outputting classes which are in fact online but adjustable reliable
online but adjustable reliable
online but adjustable reliable individualized personalized able to move
individualized personalized able to move
individualized personalized able to move with the needs of the student able to
with the needs of the student able to
with the needs of the student able to set the bar just high enough that it’s a
set the bar just high enough that it’s a
set the bar just high enough that it’s a challenge and not crushing frankly
challenge and not crushing frankly
challenge and not crushing frankly they’re able to turn education into all
they’re able to turn education into all
they’re able to turn education into all the best things about games speaking of
the best things about games speaking of
the best things about games speaking of which I actually my used to be a
which I actually my used to be a
which I actually my used to be a language professor and my very favorite
language professor and my very favorite
language professor and my very favorite language class of all time was on
language class of all time was on
language class of all time was on duolingo online for free because you
duolingo online for free because you
duolingo online for free because you know if you didn’t practice that owl
know if you didn’t practice that owl
know if you didn’t practice that owl might die
can we come up with an incentive like
can we come up with an incentive like that for regular classes I’m not sure
that for regular classes I’m not sure
that for regular classes I’m not sure okay so here’s the truth
okay so here’s the truth
okay so here’s the truth the university is facing a world in
the university is facing a world in
the university is facing a world in which the Internet has all knowledge
which the Internet has all knowledge
which the Internet has all knowledge available for free any student can go
available for free any student can go
available for free any student can go anywhere to find any information we’re
anywhere to find any information we’re
anywhere to find any information we’re not in the business to anymore providing
not in the business to anymore providing
not in the business to anymore providing information we’re supposed to be in the
information we’re supposed to be in the
information we’re supposed to be in the business of telling people how to
business of telling people how to
business of telling people how to interpret information working with them
interpret information working with them
interpret information working with them to understand their world and yet these
to understand their world and yet these
to understand their world and yet these new courses which are powered by really
new courses which are powered by really
new courses which are powered by really excellent machine learning are doing
excellent machine learning are doing
excellent machine learning are doing precisely that so as we’ve not been
precisely that so as we’ve not been
precisely that so as we’ve not been paying attention right now any single
paying attention right now any single
paying attention right now any single one of you could cobble together an
one of you could cobble together an
one of you could cobble together an entire college curriculum you know there
entire college curriculum you know there
entire college curriculum you know there are at least 5,000 classes that would
are at least 5,000 classes that would
are at least 5,000 classes that would count toward getting a not degree the
count toward getting a not degree the
count toward getting a not degree the uncommon has popularized this we’re
uncommon has popularized this we’re
uncommon has popularized this we’re getting a not degree and then going out
getting a not degree and then going out
getting a not degree and then going out and trying to get a job
and trying to get a job
and trying to get a job what’s the obstacle almost every job
what’s the obstacle almost every job
what’s the obstacle almost every job description says they need a bachelor’s
description says they need a bachelor’s
description says they need a bachelor’s degree or greater so the obstacle is not
degree or greater so the obstacle is not
degree or greater so the obstacle is not the education and the learning the
the education and the learning the
the education and the learning the obstacle is the credential as I paced
obstacle is the credential as I paced
obstacle is the credential as I paced the streets of Bologna trying to find
the streets of Bologna trying to find
the streets of Bologna trying to find solace and reassurance that the
solace and reassurance that the
solace and reassurance that the university would last forever
university would last forever
university would last forever I turned around and started ahead back
I turned around and started ahead back
I turned around and started ahead back to my hotel and I ran almost directly
to my hotel and I ran almost directly
to my hotel and I ran almost directly into the Roman wall this wall was built
into the Roman wall this wall was built
into the Roman wall this wall was built a millennium ago and it protected
a millennium ago and it protected
a millennium ago and it protected Bologna both the University in the city
Bologna both the University in the city
Bologna both the University in the city from whatever horrors lay outside of it
from whatever horrors lay outside of it
from whatever horrors lay outside of it and looking at that wall everything sort
and looking at that wall everything sort
and looking at that wall everything sort of clicked into place and I said
of clicked into place and I said
of clicked into place and I said blockchain so blockchain is a
blockchain so blockchain is a
blockchain so blockchain is a mathematical technology it allows us to
mathematical technology it allows us to
mathematical technology it allows us to put online a public ledger that is
put online a public ledger that is
put online a public ledger that is accessible and and examinable by anyone
accessible and and examinable by anyone
accessible and and examinable by anyone who has cryptographic access it every
who has cryptographic access it every
who has cryptographic access it every ten minutes on average worldwide time
ten minutes on average worldwide time
ten minutes on average worldwide time stamps transactions it actually would be
stamps transactions it actually would be
stamps transactions it actually would be the exact kind of binding agent that we
the exact kind of binding agent that we
the exact kind of binding agent that we could use to put together a curriculum
could use to put together a curriculum
could use to put together a curriculum from all of the disparate elements that
from all of the disparate elements that
from all of the disparate elements that are already out there and available it’s
are already out there and available it’s
are already out there and available it’s called the trust
called the trust
called the trust call and it’s on its path to replacing
call and it’s on its path to replacing
call and it’s on its path to replacing any businesses that primarily profit by
any businesses that primarily profit by
any businesses that primarily profit by by verifying the connections between two
by verifying the connections between two
by verifying the connections between two strangers for example banks or
strangers for example banks or
strangers for example banks or stockbrokers or maybe university
stockbrokers or maybe university
stockbrokers or maybe university registrar’s so what I envision them is
registrar’s so what I envision them is
registrar’s so what I envision them is the possibility of a personal blockchain
the possibility of a personal blockchain
the possibility of a personal blockchain a personal building block by block of
a personal building block by block of
a personal building block by block of all of the disparate components of one’s
all of the disparate components of one’s
all of the disparate components of one’s education this might be github
education this might be github
education this might be github recommendations or separate classes
recommendations or separate classes
recommendations or separate classes you’ve taken from separate universities
you’ve taken from separate universities
you’ve taken from separate universities or maybe that course you took over the
or maybe that course you took over the
or maybe that course you took over the weekend and bookbinding or maybe the the
weekend and bookbinding or maybe the the
weekend and bookbinding or maybe the the crash course you took in how to program
crash course you took in how to program
crash course you took in how to program computers or you name it the idea being
computers or you name it the idea being
computers or you name it the idea being that you can assemble your own
that you can assemble your own
that you can assemble your own individual portable profile of your
individual portable profile of your
individual portable profile of your education carry it with you and have it
education carry it with you and have it
education carry it with you and have it be available on-demand to any potential
be available on-demand to any potential
be available on-demand to any potential employer also discoverability its
employer also discoverability its
employer also discoverability its searchable you could be found before you
searchable you could be found before you
searchable you could be found before you even know there’s an employment
even know there’s an employment
even know there’s an employment opportunity that exactly matches what
opportunity that exactly matches what
opportunity that exactly matches what you want what I see happening as a
you want what I see happening as a
you want what I see happening as a result of this is potentially something
result of this is potentially something
result of this is potentially something really great now what happens to
really great now what happens to
really great now what happens to universities I think lots of
universities I think lots of
universities I think lots of universities are gonna have to scale
universities are gonna have to scale
universities are gonna have to scale back retrench not try to do everything
back retrench not try to do everything
back retrench not try to do everything focus on the very things that they do
focus on the very things that they do
focus on the very things that they do best and not try to cover all topics but
best and not try to cover all topics but
best and not try to cover all topics but I think also that universities are gonna
I think also that universities are gonna
I think also that universities are gonna have to figure out how to change or
have to figure out how to change or
have to figure out how to change or become completely irrelevant in this new
become completely irrelevant in this new
become completely irrelevant in this new ecosystem in a global university we’re
ecosystem in a global university we’re
ecosystem in a global university we’re going to need to be providing courses
going to need to be providing courses
going to need to be providing courses just in time for lifelong learners on
just in time for lifelong learners on
just in time for lifelong learners on schedules that lifelong learners can
schedules that lifelong learners can
schedules that lifelong learners can handle and some of them may be in person
handle and some of them may be in person
handle and some of them may be in person and a lot of them may be at a distance
and a lot of them may be at a distance
and a lot of them may be at a distance and yet I think if we want to play in
and yet I think if we want to play in
and yet I think if we want to play in this global ecosystem that really is our
this global ecosystem that really is our
this global ecosystem that really is our only hope for survival
only hope for survival
only hope for survival finally I would say that there’s huge
finally I would say that there’s huge
finally I would say that there’s huge hope in this as well because right now
hope in this as well because right now
hope in this as well because right now in the next three years 3.3 billion
in the next three years 3.3 billion
in the next three years 3.3 billion people globally are going to become part
people globally are going to become part
people globally are going to become part of the global middle class very little
of the global middle class very little
of the global middle class very little money but hungry for education by 2030
money but hungry for education by 2030
money but hungry for education by 2030 that’s going to be 4.8 bill
that’s going to be 4.8 bill
that’s going to be 4.8 bill people universities can serve millions
people universities can serve millions
people universities can serve millions but a global university can serve the
but a global university can serve the
but a global university can serve the billions who want to go forward and
billions who want to go forward and
billions who want to go forward and educate themselves and we can also
educate themselves and we can also
educate themselves and we can also streamline their their own individual
streamline their their own individual
streamline their their own individual pathways toward the kind of education
pathways toward the kind of education
pathways toward the kind of education they want because every option will be
they want because every option will be
they want because every option will be available to them through both the
available to them through both the
available to them through both the internet and the blockchain the future
internet and the blockchain the future
internet and the blockchain the future is already here it’s just not evenly
is already here it’s just not evenly
is already here it’s just not evenly distributed yet said William Gibson the
distributed yet said William Gibson the
distributed yet said William Gibson the future is here all of the educational
future is here all of the educational
future is here all of the educational components and all the technological
components and all the technological
components and all the technological components are in place it’s just a
components are in place it’s just a
components are in place it’s just a matter of a few years thank you very
matter of a few years thank you very
matter of a few years thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment