Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | Fact Book 2018 | Worcester Business Journal 43 Educating in the modern world A s a region home to 17 col- leges, Central Massachusetts must con- sider the growing popular- ity of online learning and other emerging instructional trends possibly stifling the role of higher edu- cation as a major economic driver for the region. Remote degree programs threaten to make colleges and universi- ties obsolete, unless they have some- thing to offer that students can't find behind a screen. Tom Daccord is the CEO and cofounder of EdTechTeacher in Boston, an organization supporting educators in their quest to enrich student-learning experiences through emerging technol- ogies. Daccord acknowledges the expansion of online learning will no doubt impact higher education, though he emphasizes it will vary among disci- plines and subjects. "Most people want a physician to give a measure of comfort and confidence in the knowledge that they have under- gone traditional and rigorous formation through medical school," he said. Daccord recognizes companies are in need of technical workers and there are a myriad of fields where potential employees could attain the competen- cies required without undergoing a tra- ditional four-year education path. "Some leading tech companies are also moving in that direction," he said. Leaning into liberal arts Daccord believes the goal of a liberal arts education is to develop well-round- ed citizens who are able to communicate effectively, exercise reason, contribute on a wide range of topics, and perhaps even speak another language. Yet, he sees the interest in obtaining a liberal arts educa- tion declining as increasing pressures to gain skills and competencies mount. "With the amount of debt students are handling after graduation, some are beginning to question the value of a lib- eral arts degree," Daccord said. Worcester's College of the Holy Cross believes a liberal arts education amounts to more than employment by providing a foundation for problem solving and critical thinking. "But liberal arts institutions need to consider not just how we will give our students the skills they need to find a career, though that is impor- tant. We are also called to think about how to develop the grounding and perspec- tive students need to engage this world," said Holy Cross Provost Margaret Freije. Embracing the screen By contrast, other local institutions are eager to evolve with emerging tech- nologies. Becker College in Worcester has curated one of the top game design programs in the country, according to the Princeton Review. Becker College is the first college in Massachusetts to offer scholarships to varsity esports stu- dent athletes. "The rise of esports, or competitive video gaming, on campus is for real. At Becker College, since launching our varsity esports program and esports management degree last summer, the response has been extraordinary. It's an exciting time," said Timothy Loew, executive director of MassDiGI and general manager of the Becker College varsity esports program. Loew's work with Becker College continues to feed the innovation economy in Central Massachusetts by bridging higher education and the gaming industry. MassDiGI's summer innova- tion program attracts young talent from all over the world to participate in a 12-week game development cohort at Becker College each summer. Loew finds game design is not limited to programming, animation, art, pro- duction and computer science; it calls for marketers, writers, and musicians. This stands as a reminder that online learning trends may seek to enhance liberal arts education in Central Mass., but it will never replace it. BY SARAH CONNELL Special to the Worcester Business Journal H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n I N D U S T R I E S Tom Daccord, CEO & cofounder, EdTechTeacher W The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester focuses on a well-rounded liberal arts education.

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