As Harvard, MIT and Stanford, three of the best universities in the world as ranked in US News, begin to offer online courses, as do Yale University and University of California-Berkeley, I hear murmurings of 'the days of the brick and mortar university is over'.
Also, using those tools, people do learn. Scott H Young managed to complete the MIT curricula - well, most of it - himself. Without SAT scores, debt or 4 years. He did it all, in just under a year.
MIT Challenge
I also recall having the best 3 months in my life studying all by myself using iTunes U. Singapore underwent a major recession in the late 2000's when I graduated from High School. Added with my own autism condition, I decided to just do e-learning. I learned more in the 3 months after A Levels, before I enrolled in University. Result: I really learned more from iTunes U than in other places, including my local university.
Here is the issue.
More than ever, I realize university is a place for networking and a series of tests and exams that we try our best to perform well.
I do attend job fairs, and I am constantly reminded that employers nowadays, even in Singapore, do not really look out for religion, gender or even age, because Singapore adopts some sort of Equal Employment Opportunities laws. However, in Singapore, and in America most likely, even under EEO regulations, there are two very important considerations to take note of:
1. National Origin. Employers can ask 'have you worked under a different name?' I know for some people who look Chinese with their long straight hair and fair complexions, but with Indian family roots, this could be a sore point. After all, in Singapore, I have to admit, it's hard to be a non-Chinese or non-Caucasian.
2. Disability. Employers do ask, 'Do Disabilities affect your performance in work'? Books do guide me that this question may be asked, but my experiences in the brick and mortar universities (especially for school leadership positions such as training for scholarship programs, overseas exchanges, etc) tell me that this is indeed asked, especially as I took my examinations under special provisions, with the urging of my helpful, well-intentioned but ignorant high school teacher.
Yes, I can get into brick and mortar universities, with or without evidence of my own disabilities. I still have an A Level certificate. So what? I learn I cannot get the opportunities for further education opportunities that my school provides, because they have few resources for people like me to excel (at least, in Singapore). They also can do nothing when placing resources to my learning needs, for example, anxiety in examinations. (All they do is to extend my examination time, which did not help me, so I refused that accommodation after a year). But they don't help me.
Given that I have no work opportunities, and that the government (or for that matter, for-profit private enterprises and government-sponsored institutions) doesn't accept me as a paid employee, should I suck thumb? Will I be better off if, even with my decent grades but less-than-desirable technical skills, I chose vocational schools on hindsight that gives a crappy pay forever, but at least something to do?
After all, as said, I do think I learn a little more stuff outside formalized settings, than, say, in schools.
I personally think that for able Aspies, if they have no serious deficits or any particularly strong interests in other subjects, they may have to get into Universities, and complete Beta/STEM courses. Indeed, STEM may require more technical skills as autism/social skills may be less relevant in technical jobs than in other sorts of jobs. However, as one member from Singapore, 190, mentioned, 'what can we do when the people from China and India competes with us, both in terms of cost and quality'? After all, they come from brick and mortar universities themselves, and they have equal critical thinking and communication skills as Singaporean workers, if not better, at a fraction of Singaporeans' costs.
I can only say, tough luck!
Aspies may fare badly in brick and mortar universities if they don't have money to take advantage of all opportunities, get another diagnosis or something to prove autism does not hinder their functioning level, or somehow have some extraordinary competence to do well in academia.
This is why, my stand is, Aspies should take advantage of all sorts of free education, until they cannot get formalized education. They could take up online courses if they wish. They shouldn't take up debt to do further studies, until they have substantial work experience, or really push themselves to initiate networking to make scholarships, recommendations etc happen. But for many, many Aspies who already struggle in life, may I just say, formal university degrees harm more than help.
Why should we do something we dislike, anyway?
Also, using those tools, people do learn. Scott H Young managed to complete the MIT curricula - well, most of it - himself. Without SAT scores, debt or 4 years. He did it all, in just under a year.
MIT Challenge
I also recall having the best 3 months in my life studying all by myself using iTunes U. Singapore underwent a major recession in the late 2000's when I graduated from High School. Added with my own autism condition, I decided to just do e-learning. I learned more in the 3 months after A Levels, before I enrolled in University. Result: I really learned more from iTunes U than in other places, including my local university.
Here is the issue.
More than ever, I realize university is a place for networking and a series of tests and exams that we try our best to perform well.
I do attend job fairs, and I am constantly reminded that employers nowadays, even in Singapore, do not really look out for religion, gender or even age, because Singapore adopts some sort of Equal Employment Opportunities laws. However, in Singapore, and in America most likely, even under EEO regulations, there are two very important considerations to take note of:
1. National Origin. Employers can ask 'have you worked under a different name?' I know for some people who look Chinese with their long straight hair and fair complexions, but with Indian family roots, this could be a sore point. After all, in Singapore, I have to admit, it's hard to be a non-Chinese or non-Caucasian.
2. Disability. Employers do ask, 'Do Disabilities affect your performance in work'? Books do guide me that this question may be asked, but my experiences in the brick and mortar universities (especially for school leadership positions such as training for scholarship programs, overseas exchanges, etc) tell me that this is indeed asked, especially as I took my examinations under special provisions, with the urging of my helpful, well-intentioned but ignorant high school teacher.
Yes, I can get into brick and mortar universities, with or without evidence of my own disabilities. I still have an A Level certificate. So what? I learn I cannot get the opportunities for further education opportunities that my school provides, because they have few resources for people like me to excel (at least, in Singapore). They also can do nothing when placing resources to my learning needs, for example, anxiety in examinations. (All they do is to extend my examination time, which did not help me, so I refused that accommodation after a year). But they don't help me.
Given that I have no work opportunities, and that the government (or for that matter, for-profit private enterprises and government-sponsored institutions) doesn't accept me as a paid employee, should I suck thumb? Will I be better off if, even with my decent grades but less-than-desirable technical skills, I chose vocational schools on hindsight that gives a crappy pay forever, but at least something to do?
After all, as said, I do think I learn a little more stuff outside formalized settings, than, say, in schools.
I personally think that for able Aspies, if they have no serious deficits or any particularly strong interests in other subjects, they may have to get into Universities, and complete Beta/STEM courses. Indeed, STEM may require more technical skills as autism/social skills may be less relevant in technical jobs than in other sorts of jobs. However, as one member from Singapore, 190, mentioned, 'what can we do when the people from China and India competes with us, both in terms of cost and quality'? After all, they come from brick and mortar universities themselves, and they have equal critical thinking and communication skills as Singaporean workers, if not better, at a fraction of Singaporeans' costs.
I can only say, tough luck!
Aspies may fare badly in brick and mortar universities if they don't have money to take advantage of all opportunities, get another diagnosis or something to prove autism does not hinder their functioning level, or somehow have some extraordinary competence to do well in academia.
This is why, my stand is, Aspies should take advantage of all sorts of free education, until they cannot get formalized education. They could take up online courses if they wish. They shouldn't take up debt to do further studies, until they have substantial work experience, or really push themselves to initiate networking to make scholarships, recommendations etc happen. But for many, many Aspies who already struggle in life, may I just say, formal university degrees harm more than help.
Why should we do something we dislike, anyway?
