[LINK] Flipping the classroom: using technology to change the

[stephen at melbpc.org.au]

Tom writes,

> Courses have to be carefully designed, to the point where the guidance
> is not obvious to the student. But this can work too well, with the
> students complaining the teachers are not "teaching" them.


Well 'obviously' teaching students or not, the fact remains very obvious 
that our Australian universities, and our respective academic staff, are
doing exceptionally fine work indeed. And, this is in world terms. Local 
universities always rank amongst the top in world terms (per capita also
otherwise) and just last week Tha Australian notes that higher education
earnings are Australia's THIRD main 'export' income. (Year to Sep, 2011,
metal ore and minerals $31.7 billion then coal coke and briquettes $17.5
billion, and third, international education $15.1 billion. And, of which
of these three industries might we be most proud?) Sometimes, one thinks
we as a nation may tend to overlook the *quality* of Au higher education.

Cheers,
Stephen