Smaller is better. Just look at computers. Computing machines that used to fill whole rooms can now be housed in your smart phone, held in the palm of your hand. Okay, not the whole machines, but certainly the machines’ computing capabilities.

Why not apply the same process of miniaturization to education? The answer, say many experts, is why not, indeed.

Micro-credentials – or nano degrees, if you will – may well be the next “big” thing in American higher education. Sites like Skillshare, Udacity, Lynda.com are already offering certification for technology courses, rather than full four-year degrees. And the demand for these programs is growing.

With the average cost of a 4-year public university soaring to nearly $37,000, and many companies complaining that new employees are not leaving college with necessary job skills, attending a traditional two- or four-year school may not be the best option for many students. Earning a few dozen micro-credentials could offer new workers an advantage in the employment marketplace.

Is American education poised for a major shakeup? It certainly looks that way. Experts suggest that traditional institutions of higher learning would be wise to re-examine their educational paradigms if they hope to keep up in a smaller-is-better world.  It could well be, however, that we are seeing the beginning of a serious rift between education and job training. Where that divide will take us is anyone’s guess.