Here’s a countdown of EdSurge’s top stories about the college world in 2024, based on readership.
Almost half of the articles in the top 10 are about the impact that AI tools like ChatGPT are having on campuses. This is no surprise, given that new AI products are announced almost every week and students are flooding social media to share how they use AI products in their assignments. But the top topic was how to provide proper education to people who cannot see a screen.
Many of our top stories raise fundamental questions about higher education. How much should college cost (and how much are people actually paying)? What resources should we provide (in places like campus libraries)? Due to COVID-19 How should education change for a group of students whose academic and social lives have been disrupted (and instructors who have taken a crash course in online education)? And why should so many high school students take community college courses? When did you start doing it? (And what does that mean for college access).
The year ahead is expected to raise many surprising new questions. Whatever happens, we look forward to sharing what we’ve learned with you. Thank you for reading!
Written by Robert Ubel
Since the coronavirus pandemic forced teachers around the world to experiment with online teaching, something unexpected has happened. Professors have discovered that there are some methods of teaching online that are more effective than those that can be done within the confines of a physical classroom, argues Robert Uebel, a longtime leader in the online education movement.
Written by Robert Ubel
A longtime university administrator in charge of online programs says he is eliminating a model that has helped many institutions begin offering online degrees but has resulted in a significant reduction in online revenue for sponsoring companies. He says he has mixed feelings about the idea. He said the question boils down to: “Are universities ready for a world without OPM?”
Written by Nadia Tamez Robredo
An increasing number of high school students are unsure whether to attend university due to high tuition fees. However, EdSurge’s analysis found that there is a discrepancy between the cost of attendance and what students actually pay on average. Find out how students can get a more accurate estimate of their tuition fees.
Written by Adam Brown and Suleiman Kachani
Two leaders at Columbia University argue that scientific research should be leveraged to study the impact of ChatGPT and other AI tools on higher education, and they are calling on three researchers to better understand how to use them. We offer two research approaches.
Written by Jeffrey R. Young
Businesses and technologists are rushing to apply modern AI chatbots to realize the long-held dream of building personalized digital tutors. But at least one longtime AI developer says that’s not possible, and that the best use of AI is to supplement human tutors and teachers, not replace them. claims.
Written by Jennifer Howard
Stakeholders who work in university libraries say young people expect libraries to provide safe hangouts and access to resources such as free Wi-Fi, makerspaces, and high-tech equipment. It is said that this has been passed on to universities as well. See how Gen Z is changing campus libraries. Surprise: Digital natives still value print.
Written by Jeffrey R. Young
Can AI help students improve their writing without taking over the process entirely? Two British professors outline a vision for ‘restrained generative AI’, using technology to turn notes into prose We built software tools to test ideas for transformation.
Written by Jeffrey R. Young
One college student said her professor’s AI detector incorrectly flagged a paper she wrote as bot-generated, even though she only used a grammar checker. This incident raised questions about the boundaries between acceptable and unacceptable use of generative AI tools in academic settings.
Written by Rebecca Koenig
You might be surprised by the number of high school students taking college courses these days. Experts say dual enrollment has become so popular because it’s good for everyone involved: students, universities and K-12 schools. What challenges remain if these types of programs are to “realize their full potential as instruments of college and career access and equity,” as one expert puts it? Or?
Written by Stephanie A.N. Levin
“Universities need to change their strategies for supporting students with disabilities who are hesitant to self-identify,” writes Stephanie A. N. Levine, a doctoral candidate in educational leadership at Rowan University. Reflecting on her experiences as a visually impaired college student who felt uncomfortable reporting her disability, Levine is calling on higher education institutions to better support students with disabilities.
