I have a passion for “strained metaphors” and use them on a regular basis in the classroom.  Students sometimes audibly groan, but that only encourages me!   Metaphors provide more “aha” moments than most other teaching strategies.  It is important to know this so as to understand the following story - - metaphor.  

The Strained Metaphor:   My wife and I took a drive a week ago.  As we passed this pasture, I noticed the situation captured in the photo – essentially, a large number of cattle were grouped under the only shade tree in the pasture.  But there were a lot of cattle that apparently didn’t fit under that tree, so they were scattered hither and thither – and totally ignored by the cattle grouped under the tree.

I circled back to take this photo knowing I could share this with you – and I knew you would see what I saw, right?

Just in case you don’t, I view this as a super metaphor since it has multiple applications to current higher education.  I offer several that I’ve thought of:

1. Our campus recruitment practices and program/degree offerings.  Our campuses tend to focus on certain students – at the expense of others.   Right now, it seems to be “workforce” students.  Administrators know money is available and it has political clout with trustees and legislators.  Really, it’s the thing.  Not true 30 years ago.  Then the focus was on transfer at the expense of the trades and workforce programs.  But unfortunately, it tends to be an either/or approach to recruitment or offerings.    We seem to be incapable of serving a range of students/their needs at the same time.  
2. How we approach serving our students.  Higher education has a tendency of targeting certain students.  For instance, we have been fixated on traditional students for some time.  But have done so at the expense of nontraditional students.  Our campuses are Monday - Friday 8-5 operations.  This has relevance to the traditional students, but makes it hard for nontraditional students to even get started much less have the support they need evenings/weekends.  This is true of the advantages of the in-class student vs. the online student as well. 
3. Professional Development training – as institutions, we apply our philosophy of teaching our students to training our staff.  In other words, it is rare to have an individualized or tailored training structure– rather, we aim for the mainstream and many of our colleagues are not factored in. 

I think the big lesson here is quite simple – don’t take a drive with me!   My poor wife had to listen to my obsessive diatribe about metaphors…

Recommended Reading

Microcredentials give grads edge in tough job market, Inside Higher Ed

Both students and employers say microcredentials are valuable assets in today’s tough job market, new data shows.

The wrong battle:  why your institution’s AI policy is probably solving the wrong problem, Campus Technology

Policies should emphasize learning demonstration: Effective AI policies distinguish types of AI use, clarify disclosure and prohibited use, and hold students responsible for showing their own understanding.

The Canvas ransomware attack shows why schools must focus on containment, not just recovery, eCampus News

Institutions that invest in containment, not just restoration, will be in a stronger position when the next attack arrives

Building an AI Center of Excellence for Higher Education, EdTech Magazine 

In higher education, an AI center of excellence is the team and operating model that makes AI usable across the whole campus,” says Louis Stewart, head of strategic initiatives for the developer ecosystem

Beyond compliance:  governing higher education in the age of intelligent systems, eCampus News

Higher education is rapidly developing AI governance frameworks through the creation/modification of policies, establishing compliance structures, conducting procurement reviews, and developing acceptable use guidelines. These efforts are necessary, but they are also increasingly insufficient because they are built around an assumption that governance is primarily about controlling technology and managing risk.

ACTUAL intelligence:  practitioner perspectives on centering the human in the age of AI, Educause

As artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes higher education, educators and technologists must rely on ACTUAL intelligence—agency, connection, trust, uniqueness, adaptability, and lifelong learning—to ensure AI enhances, rather than replaces, human judgment, relationships, and learning.

Video of the Week

The first IT tech support…, YouTube

Note:  This is an “oldie but a goodie” – anyone that deals with tech support (from our campus IT to the family member that is the “expert” on the cell phone or pad or computer) will relate to this!!!

A very normal reaction to any technology is fear – and rejection.  Perhaps something to remember as we deal with the arrival of AI.  It is natural to fear what you do not know.