Social Networking and "Small Change"

We've been having a similar discussion at JBU in which we've debated whether major change can occur from bottom-up brainstorming or whether it needs to occur from top-down strategic thinking. This Gladwell argument would say that bottom-up social networking is good for efficiency and adaptability, but "big change" requires more top-down heirarchies.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/10/04/101004fa_fact_gladwell?currentPage=all

The effects of the proposed "gainful employment" rule?

As I’ve heard Chip note a few times, if the proposed “gainful employment” rule about debt-to-salary ratios combined with default percentages were actually implemented, all of the HBCUs and many other schools would go out of business. Which raises the question of whether the for-profit schools have such poor numbers in these areas because they are unscrupulous or because they look more like the HBCUs in terms of their student numbers.

http://blog.american.com/?page_id=19885#hotspot

Another "Future of Higher Education" Article

While I tend to agree that the existing education "credential cartel" and various government subsidies both tend to stifle innovation, I don't see either system changing much in the near future.

http://www.american.com/archive/2010/september/whats-stalling-the-next-economic-revolution