“Will the Internet Ever Replace Colleges and Universities as We Know it Today?” An Internet Discussion about the Future of Higher Education

This paper explores a nearly 400-comment online discussion regarding higher education and the impact technology and the Internet has or will likely have on its future. From “I predict only 200 research brick and mortar universities will be alive and provide online programs” to “online education is growing, but the early research shows that blended learning is the best for students”, the diversity of comments provides a varied spectrum of thought concerning the future of higher education. The results of the discussion of over 50 professionals on a Linkedin discussion group of higher education professionals suggests that technology will play a major in higher education role but traditional institutions will continue to be around for the foreseeable future.