Self-directed education more valuable than a college degree in the job market?

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wordcreatorushtwf

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Is having a college or university diploma still the avenue to a well-paying job or is the ability to access information technology enabling job seekers to bypass costly higher education that may leave them in debt for years to come?

Anya Kamenetz believes that self-directed learning is enabling learners to satisfy the needs of prospective employers who are looking to hire people with specific knowledge.

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http://www.examiner.com/article/sel...valuable-than-a-college-degree-the-job-market
 
I did the math somewhere, and spending 4 hours a day of directed study will net you a BA in a field in 2.6 years. Of course you have no test, homework, pace, blah blah blah, but theoretically self education is capable of surpassing guided education.
 
Dick Puncher EXPRESS said:
Depends on the job and the degree.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate. The capacity for self directed learning would seem universally more valuable. Technology is going to make continuing education more critical in all fields. It is not feasible that all of that will take place in formal education settings.

IMO, this is going to be the next big industry that is transformed by technology. Information sources, news, music, and tv were obvious candidates and education is a good match, as well, for the same reasons. The political resistance will be greater here, but it won't matter in the end.
 
wordcreatorushtwf said:
Is having a college or university diploma still the avenue to a well-paying job or is the ability to access information technology enabling job seekers to bypass costly higher education that may leave them in debt for years to come?

Anya Kamenetz believes that self-directed learning is enabling learners to satisfy the needs of prospective employers who are looking to hire people with specific knowledge.

Read more
http://www.examiner.com/article/sel...valuable-than-a-college-degree-the-job-market
Click to expand...

No, self-directed education won't be some magic bullet. Some people will do it and succeed; others will go into apprenticeship programs; others will go to universities. There is stuff you get from colleges/universities that you don't get from self-directed learning.

Self-directed learning is fine if you want to learn one skill. But if you want to be a thoroughly educated person, it's not enough.
 
Its not consistent enough, either, imo. The incentives and thoroughness of it is also suspect.
 
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