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Technology is changing higher education in more ways than can be counted. Distance education has become common. Leading universities are putting course materials or even entire courses online – free. The Obama plan for community colleges envisions free online courses that could be used nationwide. Curtis J. Bonk, a professor of instructional systems technology at Indiana University, surveys this landscape in The World Is Open: How Web Technology is Revolutionizing Education (Jossey-Bass). Bonk responded to questions about the book in an e-mail interview. Inside Higher Ed, 25 August 2009

An interesting study from none other than the US Department of Education says that students using online education actually perform better than those who just learn in the classroom. The findings are all the more intriguing, considering the source. The study examined a number of other studies on the subject to reach its conclusions. Online education programs should be pleased with the results. WebProNews, 20 August 2009

Providing access to quality higher education opportunities across India is possible only if emphasis is laid on open education with thrust on information communication technology (ICT), experts said. A two-day symposium on ‘Open Education Resources for Network Enabled Education’, organised by the country’s largest open university, the Indira Gandhi National Open University, concluded with a consensus among experts to push for an action plan based on National Knowledge Commission (NKC) recommendations. SiliconIndia, 23 August 2009

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, met with students from around Australia to discuss the Government’s proposed changes to Youth Allowance. Also invited were Chair of Universities Australia, Professor Peter Coaldrake, President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, Nigel Palmer and the National Union of Students National President, David Barrow. ALP Media release, 24 August 2009