We've been crunching the numbers and your votes are ready. Here's a countdown of EdSurge's top stories about college in 2024, based on readership.
Nearly half of the stories in our top 10 involve the impact ai tools like ChatGPT are having on campuses. It's not surprising, considering that new ai products appear almost every week and students are quick to take to social media to share how they use them in their assignments. But the number one story was about providing an appropriate education to those who cannot see screens.
Many of the top stories raise fundamental questions about higher education. How much should college cost (and how much do people actually pay)? What resources should be offered (in places like the campus library)? How should teaching change for a group of students whose studies and social lives were disrupted by COVID-19 (and teachers who had a crash course in online teaching)? And when did so many high school students start taking community college courses (and what does that mean for college access)?
The coming year promises to raise many new and surprising questions. Whatever happens, we hope to share what we learn with you. Thanks for reading!
By Robert Ubell
Since the COVID-19 pandemic forced teachers around the world to try online education, something unexpected has happened: Teachers have discovered that there are some online teaching methods that work better than those that can be done online. the limits of a physical classroom, argues Robert Ubell. , a long-time leader in online education efforts.
By Robert Ubell
A longtime administrator of online programs at universities says he has mixed feelings about the idea of shutting down a model that has helped many institutions begin offering online degrees but gave supporting companies a big chunk of online income. He says the question comes down to: Are universities prepared for a world without OPM?
By Nadia Tamez-Robledo
More high school students say they are unsure about college, in part because of high tuition prices. But there is a difference between the cost of attendance and what students actually pay on average, according to an EdSurge analysis. Find out how students can get a more accurate tuition estimate.
By Adam Brown and Soulaymane Kachani
Two Columbia University leaders argue that scientific research should be used to study the impact of ChatGPT and other ai tools in higher education, and offer three research approaches to better understand how to use them.
By Jeffrey R. Young
Businesses and technologists are rushing to apply the latest ai chatbots to fulfill the long-cherished dream of creating a personalized digital tutor. But at least one longtime ai developer maintains that it's not possible and that the best use of ai is to help human tutors and teachers, not replace them.
By Jennifer Howard
Young people look to libraries for safe places to hang out and access resources like free Wi-Fi, maker spaces, and tech equipment—expectations they take with them to college, according to people who work in and with academic libraries. Here's how Generation Z is changing the campus library. Surprise: These digital natives still value print.
By Jeffrey R. Young
Could ai help students improve their writing without taking over the entire process? Two English teachers have outlined a vision of “narrow generative ai” and created a software tool to test their idea of using the technology to convert notes into prose.
By Jeffrey R. Young
A college student says her professor's ai detector falsely flagged an article she wrote as generated by a bot when all she used was a grammar checker. The incident raises questions about the line between acceptable and unacceptable uses of generative ai tools in academic settings.
By Rebeca Koenig
The number of high school students currently taking college courses may surprise you. Experts say dual enrollment has become so popular because it's good for all parties involved: students, colleges and K-12 schools. What challenges remain for this type of program to “live up to its potential as a lever of access and equity to college and careers,” as one expert put it?
By Stephanie AN Levin
“Colleges and universities must change their tactics to support students with disabilities who are hesitant to self-identify,” writes Stephanie AN Levin, a doctoral candidate in educational leadership at Rowan University. Levin reflects on her experience as a visually impaired college student who did not feel comfortable reporting her disability while calling on higher education to better support students with disabilities.
