Higher Learning Academy: Shaping the Future of Education

For centuries, higher education has been a cornerstone of society, with generations passing through classrooms and libraries in pursuit of knowledge. While the fundamental concept has remained constant, the landscape of higher education is undergoing a significant transformation driven by technological advancements. This evolution raises important questions about the future of learning and the role of innovative educational models like the Early Learning Academy and MOOCs.

Early Childhood Education: Building a Foundation for Future Success

Marymount University’s Early Learning Academy (ELA) is at the forefront of innovative early childhood education. Through a $75,000 Child Care Capacity Building & Quality Improvement Grant awarded by the Arlington County Board and additional donor funding, the ELA is developing a new STEAM Lab and outdoor STEAM learning area. Approved in May 2025, the grant supports the creation of a dedicated indoor STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) learning space and complementary outdoor environment designed to encourage nature-based creativity, exploration and hands-on discovery for preschoolers.

The Importance of STEAM Education

“This grant gives us an incredible opportunity to expand how our children learn, play and imagine,” said Kristen Cunningham, Director of the Early Learning Academy. By introducing STEAM at the preschool level, the ELA is building the foundation for critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity that will serve its students for years to come. Research demonstrates how early exposure to STEAM concepts can be powerful for building a strong foundation that leads to future academic success. A recent study published by the American Psychological Association, conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, found that high-quality early childhood education emphasizing sensitivity, cognitive stimulation, and exploratory learning is strongly associated with STEM achievement through high school.

A Dedicated STEAM Lab

The ELA’s STEAM Lab will feature interactive learning centers designed to integrate science experiments, engineering challenges, creative arts, and mathematical exploration in ways appropriate for young learners. “Our new STEAM Lab will be a space where children experiment, ask questions and explore concepts through art, building, science and technology,” explained Faye Leier, Assistant Director of the Early Learning Academy.

Training the Next Generation of Educators

As part of Marymount’s mission as a lab school, the ELA plans to share the STEAM Lab as a training resource for educators, parents, and students in the Arlington community-aligning with a “train the trainer” model that extends professional development to local preschool directors and caregivers. “This initiative reflects Marymount’s deep commitment to both education and community partnership,” Cunningham added. Launched in Fall 2023, Marymount’s Early Learning Academy provides a high-quality, research-based preschool experience.

Creating a Culture of Growth and Collaboration

The Early Learning Academy also focuses on creating a culture where staff, teachers, and administrators understand that "it's okay to make mistakes, try it!". This involves:

Collaboration: Fostering collaboration between all levels of staff.
Respect: Recognizing that everyone learns at different speeds.
Relationships: Establishing relationships that show it's okay to ask questions without ridicule or shame.
Trust: Building trust within each other and having the ability to believe in the person next to you.
Growth Mindset: Encouraging a growth mindset where everyone believes in their ability to learn and improve.

This approach aligns with the concept of "Tabla Rasa," also known as a Blank Slate, allowing everyone to make critical and enforced decisions that will help create a new culture where mistakes are seen as learning opportunities.

Higher Learning Academy of Central Florida: A Story of Resilience

Child care is a field driven by a passion for education and teaching children. That was the case for Betty Bent, owner of Higher Learning Academy of Central Florida, located in Lake Wales. Bent cherishes the 45 kids, ages six weeks to 10-years-old, that are under her care on a daily basis.

Overcoming Adversity

When disaster struck, Bent's academy faced significant challenges. "We lost a lot of outside toys. We lost a lot of mulch and dirt foundation. With DCF, you have to have a certain number of inches in mulch. We had damage where water came into the building. It damaged some of the book casings and it damaged some of the ceiling tiles. We lost all the food we had in the building because we had no power for five days."

The Bridge Loan Program

That’s when Bent decided she needed to reach out for some assistance to get things running again. The money from the Bridge loan program helped her business recover. "Now I’ll be able to go out and get better structured toys and I can go out and redo the playground and get it up to standards for DCF." Bent found the application process simple and easy to understand, with her representative explaining everything clearly.

MOOCs: Democratizing Higher Education

Advancements in technology are starting to evolve our long-held ideas of education. But with any big change comes a litany of questions: What is a MOOC, exactly? Who participates in them? What do they mean for the future of higher education? MOOCs - or massive open online courses - are open to anyone who wishes to take a college-level course in a particular subject. A few popular providers of MOOCs include edX, Coursera and Khan Academy.

Accessibility and Flexibility

MOOCs are taken online, but they’re not all the same. Some take a matter of weeks to complete while others can take months. Some courses are free and some require payment. Some are singular courses, some are part of a series. MOOCs are offered on a large scale. Due to the size of the course, students typically learn from recorded or curated content, discussion boards and automatically graded quizzes, explains Brandon Olson, associate professor of computer information systems (CIS) and project management at The College of St. Scholastica.

A Recent Revelation

In the world of higher education, which is steeped in tradition and historically slow to change, MOOCs are a recent revelation. The New York Times declared 2012 as “The Year of the MOOC,” with popular course platforms Coursera and edX having really taken off around that time.

Breaking Down Barriers

Much of the excitement surrounding MOOCs was born out of a celebration of accessibility. After years of scrutiny on the growing financial burden of college, free or low-costing MOOCs became all the more attractive to the public. And with prestigious schools such as Harvard and MIT providing MOOCs, elite and ivy league learning was no longer limited to a select few.

Key Differences from Online Courses

With so many students taking online classes today, MOOCs may appear pretty similar to them upon first glance. One of the most prominent aspects unique to MOOCs is that they are open to anyone. Anyone, anywhere with access to an internet-connected computer or device can enroll in a MOOC. The other main difference between MOOCs and online courses is the sheer scale. The “M” in MOOC stands for massive - and for good reason.

Read also: Key Trends in Education

Advantages of MOOCs

The benefits of MOOCs are plentiful. MOOCs are free or come at a low cost. They are accessible, offering top-notch programs from elite universities to the public. They are flexible, can be accessed from anywhere online and are often self-paced. “MOOCs are great for students who are self-directed and self-motivated, are distracted by social interaction during learning and who prefer an online learning model,” says JP Figdor of Synocate.

Limitations of MOOCs

Of course, MOOCs come with a number of downfalls as well. Not everyone prefers to learn through an independent, online format. “MOOCs fall short with the community aspect of typical in-person courses,” says Ishan Puri, CEO of Synocate. A recent study revealed MOOCs tout only a five percent completion rate.

Factors Affecting Completion Rates

While five percent may seem alarmingly low, one must consider the factors affecting that figure. With free enrollment taking just minutes, students enrolling for the sheer fun of learning have nothing to lose by signing up.

Who Participates in MOOCs?

“People of all ages and education levels participate in MOOCs. Many professionals seek out MOOCs to satisfy professional development hours for certifications they may hold,” Olson explains.

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