Conversations with other students and faculty are a critical part of a college education. Certainly indispensible for sci-tech. Decades later I'm still remembering valuable tips and tidbits that profs threw at me during out-of-class discussions. If you come to class prepared, you can raise questions that can double the effectiveness of a course.<p>People just there for a degree might manage with online courses. People who love learning and are absorbing a discipline? Not so much. And thus, maybe, higher education will once again live up to its best potential ... not cranking spare parts on an assembly line.
Disruptive technologies typically a) have weaknesses, and b) offer a product that is inferior in some respect.<p>That doesn't stop them decimating the old industries. Online education is more flexible, more accessible and far cheaper than traditional education.<p>Issues like "how to mark papers" are soluble. Cheating in exams can be resolved the same way other organizations solve it: by running some exams in controlled environments. Plenty of organizations do this now: the institute of actuaries, the international baccalaureate, etc.<p>If I could short traditional universities it would be the trade of the decade.
> Computers can't grade everything... Papers are out of the question.<p>I'm currently taking a Coursera class where I write an essay each week. Then my essay is reviewed and graded by 4 other students. I grade 4 other students' essays. This works really well.