Thirty years ago, as a school social worker, I observed how difficult change was for clients even when not changing meant devastating losses. Today at YU Global, Yeshiva University's digital content arm, where we consult with struggling institutions about how to develop online content, I once again see how difficult change is even in the … Continue reading Higher Education at the Crossroads: Why Leadership, Not Economics, Determines Survival
The Forest Model: Reimagining Cooperation in Higher Education
I love watching episodes of Ted Lasso. When Coach Beard uttered these words to a colleague, using metaphor to stress the importance of cooperation, it resonated. Coach Beard: You know, we used to believe that trees competed with each other for light. Suzanne Simard's field work challenged that perception, and we now realize that the … Continue reading The Forest Model: Reimagining Cooperation in Higher Education
Reimagining Course Development: A Cost-Effective Solution for Higher Education
A colleague recently told me, "People don't change unless they have to. It’s human nature." I might have amended that to be—people change when they are compelled or impelled to. And it is of course people who comprise and run our academic institutions, many of which are being forced to consider changing in ways they … Continue reading Reimagining Course Development: A Cost-Effective Solution for Higher Education
Meeting Next-Gen Learners Where They Are: The Imperative for Excellence in Digital Education
In social work, one of our fundamental principles is to meet clients where they are. We begin by understanding their current situation, then work together toward their goals. This same principle should guide education, yet we often overlook its power. Traditional higher education tends to take a top-down approach. We decide the content to include … Continue reading Meeting Next-Gen Learners Where They Are: The Imperative for Excellence in Digital Education
Digital Innovation Meets Jewish Values: A New Era for Nonprofits
Honoring Our Past, Innovating Our Future For millennia, Jewish learning has thrived through face-to-face interaction—in batei midrash, around Shabbos tables, and in community gatherings. This embodied learning remains a cornerstone of Jewish tradition. Yet today's digital landscape presents both a challenge and an opportunity: How do we honor our traditional approach while meeting the needs … Continue reading Digital Innovation Meets Jewish Values: A New Era for Nonprofits
Conducting Change: The Art of Leading Higher Education Transformation
Hands of a conductor of a symphony orchestra close-up in black and white Higher education institutions often struggle to reconcile their desire for change with an ingrained resistance to it. Academic leaders recognize the imperative for bold, innovative thinking while remaining unable or unwilling to loosen their grip on established practices, even when financial solvency … Continue reading Conducting Change: The Art of Leading Higher Education Transformation
Time for Change: The Future of Higher Education is Now
It is hard to miss the resounding message echoed from classrooms to board rooms, higher education is at a critical juncture. The rapid pace of change is causing a dramatic shift in the knowledge and skills required to thrive in the workforce. The half-life of learned skills has dropped from 30 years in 1984 to … Continue reading Time for Change: The Future of Higher Education is Now
daniellewozniak 