1. What is the product offered by a university? Discuss the levels of product offered and how these might change in the next 10 to 20 years as result of changing technology.
2. From the point of view of both the school and the students, discuss the pros and cons of outsourcing instructors for courses or even entire degrees. Should technology be used in this way to deliver this type of product?
Have you taken an online course in high school or college? Many students have, but some traditional brick-and-mortar universities are venturing into uncharted territory by outsourcing the teaching function to online providers. Missouri State University is offering its introductory journalism class through Florida-based Poynter Institute, a non-profit journalism training group. Instructional outsourcing is popping up on campuses throughout the country, and most are serviced by for-profit companies such as Academic Partnerships, StraighterLine, and Smarthinking. These partnerships translate into bigger profit margins for both the university and the instructional partner.