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I think whatever is done to enhance the education through media and technology, the phsycial presence in Cambridge (or satellite locations) where people experience labs, camus life and build strong bonds with fellow classmates is irreplaceable. It is my personal hypothesis, through induction from observation, that the campus life builds a person in ways that go well beyond education to true wisdom.

Thus, I think these decisions should not be made without data driven and scientific analysis. For example, we can look at pseudostudies or metaanalysis of individuals grown in a very disjointed, non-local educational setting and those that were nurtured in a campus environment along with varying levels of technology enhancement. I don't think that major changes should happen without purposefully designed studies comparing status quo with new paradigms. Given the runway we have, this can be acheived through perhaps pocket pilot classes using new systems.

Education & Facilities, Educational experiences, Physical spaces, Global Implications of EdX, Beyond the residential campus, pilots, experiment, head-to-head, scientific