“The Model” [reflections on the book – the end of college – chapter 7] (Jeremiah 15:19-21; Matthew 5:1-2; 7:28-29)

So that’s their economics, how they make their money now,
How they feed their cashly food into their multiplying cow –
“The platform in the middle – nothing’s changed since Veblin’s tome,
Where “Business as an enterprise” is basis of our home.

For they’re the ones who put together players in the game;
They take a small percentage “Walmart platforms” – all the same;
Their core-provided services (they’re middleman in deals),
Put makers of the products with the buyers – service real.

Just look around society – take medics and the ill –
The hospitals are “platforms” where they meet and handout pills;
The clinics give some services, so doctors have a life;
The makers of the money own the platforms – thinking right –

In education change has happened, process has improved;
It takes some time to filter down, and that explains the MOOC –
Just using old technology (like books and lecture style)
And giving out the courses – building market-share the while.

Let other people build the widgets; rent can pay the tab;
Or better, aim for IPO; or build it, sell it well;
For “20-ex a decade” is the basis of such sales,
So “Free” is pioneering model – how the West prevailed.

Now eBay, Netflix, Amazon, with Facebook, Craigslist too,
Are single-sited platforms selling service, goods, to you;
It’s free at first, or almost free; low margins, mega sales;
Percent from each transaction; first one usually prevails.

It’s interesting his comment was “The sacrificial lamb,
Is first one out, he takes the hit, in battle he’s the van;
He’s big enough to signal change, has come by here at last,
Then institutions scramble lest they dwindle in the past.

Still “scarcity” as mindset for an institution’s ways
Of doing platforms for the role that higher-Ed still plays;
But world has opened up the market to the global scene –
“Blue Ocean” is the latest kick, and here is what that means –

One cannot think of “scarcity” as what is going on;
Blue Ocean in its sweeping size has now replaced the pond;
Jump up and launch your fishing fleet, there’s fishes in the sea –
Enough for every person, so engage in life – you’re free.

If you would like to make a pile of cash, then platform make;
As middleman provide the paths that other people take;
Own hospitals, and nursing homes, and social-network tools;
Then take your tolls as folks go by – as other people drool.

Suppliers meet with customers as agencies connect;
New contexts made for learning set up on the Internet;
Udacity and Courscera and Udemy are some;
It’s quite okay to start your own, join in and have some fun.

Remember life is exponential, rise comes at the end –
The curve stays low upon X-axis, then it sharply bends;
The trick is focus on the “Doubling”; platform is the place
That needs to double in this way, then grow up into space.

I one time heard how to assess prosperity around,
While looking at a brand-new place to move to as a town –
Check housing prices – they will show if others want to live
Where jobs are present – boost to market which “desire” will give.

The same is true for platforms like the University –
They’re much the same, but prices show if that’s the place to be”;
If after-learning-jobs are scarce for grads across the land,
Then those with market clout can charge a lot for sinking sand.

The platform doesn’t care that much for learning quality;
It cares for status, market share, what scope and scale we see;
Statistics-driven models built on probability
Drive AI tools to educate, which “satisfice” and leave.

Of course this leaves one factor out, the “maturation” task
Of knocking corners off each one before each level’s passed;
If one would rise to lead in life, they must themselves engage;
Disruption (unproductive type) can needlessly enrage.

To me, a church is “fishing shack” for us in colder climes –
A platform where the fishes come when hungry – feeding time;
It’s in that place they meet with feeders; platform takes a cut;
But they don’t care for quality – explains why so much schmuck.

But does that not reveal the flaw in online-ed today?
It’s all about the platform, built on concept, “User pay”
Back at the first the students led; then profs picked up the reins;
Now it’s admin and owners own the pickle we are in.

Thanks Lord for this.

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