Jennie S. Bev

Rationalizing learning

I have been thinking about learning, what it means to me and why I like learning all kinds of stuff. Many topics interest me, for some unknown reasons.

Is it passion? Is it hobby? Or simply curiosity? I haven't made the conclusion yet and perhaps I won't be able to make it.

It's not important why learning is so interesting. But I'm getting more picky lately. Must learn something that will be useful for life, career, and others.

Above all, it must help with my writing. It should improve my critical reasoning. So for some reasons, I still can't get my mind to stop considering going back to school. But this time I have made a pact with myself:

- Must obtain GRE score of 1400 (if it's still lower than this, keep plowing, no deadline whatsoever).
- Must have 3 startups running well to provide funding while I'm not working for a few years.
- Must pay from own pocket without any student loans, not even FAFSA (as I don't believe in any kinds of loan anymore).
- Preferably based in Northern California (so I can go home everyday and manage my corporations without being away from loved ones and friends).

It might take me 2-3 more years to go back to school, it doesn't matter. These agreements (with myself) must be fulfilled so I won't feel burdened by future obligations.

Interesting programs (but it doesn't mean I'm applying as I'm still considering many variables at this point):

IPS
Philosophy (1)
Philosphy (2)
PP

Flexible Creative Writing

My writings have been straight-shooting and opinionated-analytical. I'd love to write more creatively, so I can start writing biographies and memoirs with more confidence. But I prefer to stay in SF Bay Area to work on my new online university and going to conferences pertaining to e-learning, accreditation, Web 2.0 (or 3.0 now?), and mobile content creation.

The solution is probably UBC's Creative Writing program. It should give the flexibility I'd need to focus on entrepreneurial tasks.

Curricula

Currently, I'm working on curricula for the forthcoming online university. The draft part is done and the details are coming. It is a university for practitioners, so the degree programs will prepare students to work while contributing to the chosen field as well.

Sneak preview

Sneak preview only. Not yet finalized.

About PAU

PAU is an Internet-based academic institution currently offering programs comparable to accredited Master’s degrees in Electronic Commerce, Digital Journalism, and Online Teaching and Learning (OTL) through School of Business and Economics, School of Writing and Journalism, and School of Education. We provide high-quality programs designed by professors and course designers in the field who have a combined total of 35 years of teaching experience.

Our mission is providing low cost high-quality education to those who wish to obtain graduate-level education without having to commute and to obtain student loans from banks. Our asynchronous  method of teaching and learning provides complete flexibility for mature students who are restricted by time due to career and family commitments.

At the moment, the university and the programs offered are not accredited. However, our curriculum and administrative procedures are structured in adherence to accreditation agencies’ requirements. All new schools and universities must undergo “unaccredited” phase prior to “candidacy for accreditation” phase. Our goal is to be accredited by accreditation agencies recognized by The United States Department of Education. (Reference:  http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/accred/accreditation_pg7.html)

Our online learning programs are specifically designed to ensure the highest level of student retention with the lowest number of student drop-outs. We carefully craft the curricula, syllabi, and lecture notes. Textbooks are recommended, but not required, as we have a built-in system of custom textbooks and lecture notes that would provide clarity, structure, and high quality instructions needed by at-a-distance students.

Course designing and online university

Shortly, in the next few weeks, as soon as I have more time at hand, I'll be designing the first few degree programs for the forthcoming online university. It will offer at least 2 or 3 Master's degrees to begin with: an MBA, an MA, and an MSc majoring in business, writing/journalism, and education.

For those who aren't familiar with online learning and online universities, please educate yourself by browsing JOLT and Sloan Consortium. 

Both Web sites are the grandfathers of online learning in higher education. Starting an online university is a huge task, just like any other tasks. 

Anything online has been received with reservation. Many people were skeptical whether Amazon, eBay, or even Google would work. The fact is, many successful business people are completely Web-oriented. And I'm among those privileged ones. I'm very grateful for it.

The online university's legalities are completed. I'm very happy. Once it is done, it will be another major milestone in my business and professional life.

California-based online university

I have just received a great news from my legal team that the incorporation of the California-based online university I founded has been finalized and licenses have been obtained. We are now in the process of curriculum designing and hiring Web programmer-designer. Should everything turns out fine, the university will start recruiting students in Spring or Summer 2010. The first intake will be based on strict scholarships that would free the students from paying any fees. Consider subscribing to this blog to be notified of any new developments.

State of journalism and postgrad education quality

A friend who was graduated from Australia but resides in Jakarta, e-mailed me saying that he has refused acceptance to University of Indonesia's postgraduate school.

I was surprised because it is one of the best universities in Indonesia. Why? I asked. He said, "I visited the school and read the faculty members' articles on (news)papers. They were not impressive."

He further said, "It says a lot about the quality of Indonesian journalism as well." He probably said so because he's a graduate of Political Science and Communications and Media.

That's a challenge for the management to improve. Definitely.

Peace, social, and communications

(Image Source: Westport Public Library)

Interesting bookmarks on programs to consider:

Peace Studies at Notre Dame (studying peace building and conflict analysis)
Social Policy at Harvard (studying minority, immigration, race, and gender inequality)
Communications at UCSD (studying social change communications)

Enough to keep me busy in retirement! :)

Idea: Education vs learning and its high cost

I love learning and get educated. In this age of free economics, education is catching up with the trend. Eventually, it will be free too. And we're not talking about becoming a full-fledge scholar here. We're talking about getting educated and going to post-grad school in order to get better jobs, better careers, and better lives ahead.

I have been thinking really hard whether a $300K Stanford education is gonna worthwhile in the end. Since I have an entrepreneurial goal, this sounds far too much money to invest.

But then my other mind would say, "Isn't education the best investment of all?" I betcha. So, I'm still puzzled. Self-learned is good enough at some point but I guess the networking and the doors that won't be opened otherwise is gonna worth the tuition cost.

Seth Godin: Education at the crossroads
Susan Su: Why entrepreneurs don't need grad school
Tim Grahl: Advance education is wasteful
Charlie Hoehn: Fail cheap

Learning is just fun

I love learning and attempting to make changes. It gives me more resources in rainy days and allows me to connect more dots.

Considerations

At this point, I'm still considering (hard) on what and where to study for my second doctorate, and possibly, another Master's. GRE is not an issue as I'm pretty sure I'll be able to nail it quite well. Just need some alone time to study, without these two fur balls chasing each other by my work desk.

My concern is funding, since I have never applied for any scholarship. So, my choices are limited. I probably apply to state universities like UC or Cal State, because Stanford or Harvard would cost me a nice house ($250K to $300K). Or perhaps this time I should waive my "no scholarship rule."

Learning in retirement

The decision to retire came when I realized my house value had plummeted by 70% . Money is truly just a mirage. Sure we need it for everyday living, but keep feeding the high mortgage monster is simply a stupid thing to do.

$625K to be paid off in 30 years (not a subprime loan though) sounded a good deal but we have been making banks so much richer. I might not be the slave of money but I was the slave of the lending bank. Getting out of this hole, like 4 million other Americans are trying to do, is the right thing. The best thing that I have ever done in my life. Even if it means I need to start over.

Starting over without a jumbo mortgage would be a much pleasant experience. I'm already imagining that I would be able to afford a few nice vacations every year. Perhaps even going back to a nicer school and starting a few more investment ventures. And finishing a few more books without feeling rushed to earn top dollars just to get by.

But of course, I'll keep my money much tighter this time. Living a simple life, even adopting a minimalist lifestyle.

I have been thinking that I can use my (future) savings to pay for two more doctorate programs (without any scholarship or fellowship) and attending a few top investment seminars, and it's still much more affordable in comparison. (But I might apply for a few fellowships just for the sake of it. I need the experience.)

I have been considering an EdD as I'm founding an online university, so it will be a useful training. The other doctorate I'm considering is any of these: peace studies, communications, and non-fiction creative writing.

That's the beauty of an early retirement without keeping a jumbo mortgage. What a relief. :)

Eliteism in education and learning

What's the difference between "education" and "learning"? A question to ponder upon.

My article on the perils of elite education has been published by The Jakarta Globe. It was inspired by an article in The American Scholar titled "Disadvantages of Elite Education."

While The American Scholar's version pivots around Americans who are educated in Ivy League schools, mine focuses on Indonesian audience and what constitutes "elite" in that society and how it alienates its graduates from the society with their high sense of entitlement, false sense of security, and false sense of success. Enjoy.

Just because

I haven't walked a certain path that I had wanted to for a long time. I have been too busy with life, making a good living for the family, and learning the best I could within my limitations.

I haven't tapped into a specific skill that I had wanted to develop. And I'm going to do it now, while I'm in "early retirement" mode.

In this mode, money and time won't be at the steering wheel. My inner calling will.

Free

Freeconomics is the way of the future. All kinds of stuff are offered free.
Even education. And I'm not talking about free university-level education in Germany.

University of the People is not yet accredited (like most new schools are) and it's completely online. It uses open sources and the business and "no" revenue models are very creative and interesting.

While it's probably not the business and revenue models I'd like to consider for the forthcoming online university currently being prepared, the philanthropic mission is highly admirable. Prices can be lowered to minimal, bordering marginal. For once, Bertrand Competition is possible, selectively.

The world is really borderless now.

New beginning

I'm considering to pursue another doctorate. This second time around would be a PhD. Why? Isn't a DBA good enough and is as good as a PhD?

It has nothing to do with others' perceptions of it; it has everything to do with my lifelong goals.

The economic downturn has made me re-considered priorities in life. I have lost six-figure in savings and investments. I could have used it for many many more meaningful things. I just let the funds sit there and evaporated.

Money comes and goes. It took me a few months to get a grip of this bitter reality. Ten years of sweat and hard work in dollar terms have gone.  But I learned the lessons really well.

Life is a series of impermanence, just like when I lost my unborn baby in September 2008. By this time (July 2009), the baby should have been born, if she had survived the pregnancy.

2008 was the year of losses. But it was also the beginning of my personal renaissance. And obtaining another doctorate is a symbolic action to commence a new beginning.

In the last ten years, I have been focusing on financial pursuit more than anything else. Now it's time for me to resurrect from the dust and be stronger internally.

No more tears, as tears weaken.
Anger strengthens.
Calmness produces.
Tranquility brings clarity.

We bring renaissance to ourselves, not the other way around.