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Rep. Deb Wallace, serving the 17th District Serving a portion of Clark County. |
Advisory: Higher Education Committee to Discuss Transformational Technology Options in State Colleges and Universities
March 16, 2009
Rep. Deb Wallace (D-Vancouver) says she’s struck by the innovative ways
technology is being used around the nation and the world to provide more
students access to college while saving millions of dollars and providing
better service to students. Washington state, she says, could and should
aggressively adopt these transformational new tools.
“Imagine if we
as a state could provide free or significantly less expensive online
open-source textbooks for all English 101 students. Tens of thousands of
students have instantly avoided having to pay $80 or $100,” says Wallace.
“What if we did that with dozens of classes? This is just one example of
something that would save the state and students tens of millions of dollars
every year.”
As chair of the House Higher Education Committee,
Wallace has invited a panel of experts to discuss the range of technologies
that are transforming
the world of higher education. Examples include
open-source textbooks, online classes, and possibly even free online
universities.
Wallace also points to technology as the key to
improving coordination among universities, improving service to students
seeking information on everything from college admissions and financial aid
to tutoring assistance, and expanding access through online coursework.
What: Higher
Education Committee work session: Online learning and open-source resources
When: Tuesday, March
17 from 10-noon
Where:
John L. O’Brien Building, House Hearing Room D
Who:
Cable Green and Connie Broughton, State
Board of Community and Technical Colleges (appearing via webcast)
David Wiley, Brigham University – Chief Openness Officer of
Flat World Knowledge and
Founder of Open High School of Utah
(appearing via webcast)
Eric Frank, Co-founder of
Flat World Knowledge (appearing
via webcast)
Richard Baraniuk, Founder of
Connexions (appearing via webcast)