Trends in Higher Education

The trends in higher education institutions have an added dimension as technology has progressed through the last few decades.   A movement to education through the internet is a trend that has spread to almost every higher education institution in America.   From supplemental course information to entire courses to entire degrees offered through distance education through the internet, the trend toward the use of the internet in American colleges is one that is only increasing.   Higher education institutions in America have been changing and adapting to the growing world changes of technology and interconnectedness through the internet.   Community colleges also became a more popular form of higher education in the past decade.   Because the job market demands education, students are looking for low cost and quicker means to this education instead of attending a four year university.  

The world has become smaller and more assessable through technology.   Understanding how technology and information literacy is important throughout the disciplines of college course work becomes important as the graduate makes his way in the workforce.   Almost all professions require technological skills and understanding of basic information literacy.   The progression of computers, networking and the internet to connect the world instantly requires graduates who are fluent and confident in using technology as a tool and not simply for technology’s sake (Moore 1996).   With the internet has come online courses and distance education that requires institutions to be modified to fit the online model.   Almost every college, university or community college has a web page that connects the institution to the global society (Young 2000).   The step to offering online courses and partial or entire degrees online is one that universities are being pressured into taking simply by student demand.   To compete with other universities that offer the flexibility, using technology as a means to...