"Last Mile" programs - book review

[Clepper43]

Hi Guys -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KHP8JD/ref...UTF8&psc=1

"The New U" by Ryan Craig

I heard this speaker on the radio and got his book. Part One was all kinds of statistics on college debt and how the system is broken (interesting but not new to me) and part two is more about the emergence of "last mile" programs that give either non-degree seekers or college grads without marketable skills the hard skills and training, plus interaction with employers to actually get a job. So interesting! 

Some of the programs he names are Galvanize, Revature, Aon etc. Coding bootcamps were mentioned. The gold is in the appendix where he lists all the programs. I thought this information would be interesting to this forum as folks who get their degree with the Big Three path or testing out aren't afraid to look at new solutions.

He had a section on the online effort by Coursera and other MOOCS. He said a fraction of those who start the programs actually finish and what is needed is apparently more mentorship to go with these. Udacity Connect has one and also MIT https://bootcamp.mit.edu/entrepreneurship/. They aren't free, but not as expensive as college and also may not require a degree. DesignLab was another one he mentioned : https://trydesignlab.com/.

Anyway I found it interesting and hopeful. Our nation does need to stop promoting the 4-year college path as the only way forward.

Kathy

[cookderosa]

Hi Guys -

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079KHP8JD/ref...UTF8&psc=1

"The New U" by Ryan Craig

I heard this speaker on the radio and got his book. Part One was all kinds of statistics on college debt and how the system is broken (interesting but not new to me) and part two is more about the emergence of "last mile" programs that give either non-degree seekers or college grads without marketable skills the hard skills and training, plus interaction with employers to actually get a job. So interesting! 

Some of the programs he names are Galvanize, Revature, Aon etc. Coding bootcamps were mentioned. The gold is in the appendix where he lists all the programs. I thought this information would be interesting to this forum as folks who get their degree with the Big Three path or testing out aren't afraid to look at new solutions.

He had a section on the online effort by Coursera and other MOOCS. He said a fraction of those who start the programs actually finish and what is needed is apparently more mentorship to go with these. Udacity Connect has one and also MIT https://bootcamp.mit.edu/entrepreneurship/. They aren't free, but not as expensive as college and also may not require a degree. DesignLab was another one he mentioned : https://trydesignlab.com/.

Anyway I found it interesting and hopeful. Our nation does need to stop promoting the 4-year college path as the only way forward.

Kathy

Thanks for posting! I was JUST thinking that my library queue is empty