There seems to be a lot of discussion about a “conflict [in higher education] between knowledge and know-how”. (For example see Jon Meacham’s piece in Time Magazine. Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/09/26/the-class-of-2025/#ixzz2hzCFD6hS where that quote was taken.) There is also overwhelming eviedence that students just aren’t learning. – also discussed in Mr. Meacham’s piece. So, as the title of this post […]
Why Do So Many People Not Ask the Right Question?
October 16, 2013 by
I just read Jon Meacham’s piece, What Colleges Will Teach in 2025 America must resolve the conflict between knowledge and know-how Read more: http://nation.time.com/2013/09/26/the-class-of-2025/#ixzz2huhvoTUz He is a well known figure and the author of several books. He writes about how little graduates learn, how little students work, and how, in spite of all this, they […]
Financial Times Commentary on Higher Ed in America
October 14, 2013 by
“Price has come unmoored from the value and even the cost of an education, says Mark Vandevelde” is the subtitle of the comment http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/8d502756-327e-11e3-91d2-00144feab7de.html?siteedition=intl#axzz2hhZ4SDOY It is well written, to the point, and cites Nobel Prize Wnner Michael Spence for an explanation for why buying no education is still worth it economically. Its just a tax.
According to OECD, Most Workers Who Feel Overqualified Aren’t. So Why? Have They Been Conned?
October 10, 2013 by
Jordan Weissmann has a post in The Atlantic on this http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/10/1-in-5-us-workers-im-too-educated-for-my-job/280441/#disqus_thread My comment on his post explains my position: “Many of those who think that they are overeducated are actually “over-degreed” by schools that convince students that they are getting a “college education” (and many other types of education), when they aren’t. The brilliant David […]
Good Short Article in The Atlantic with Informative Table.
September 30, 2013 by
Here is the link to the article http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/09/americas-wasteful-higher-education-spending-in-a-chart/280130/#comments Here is my comment: “Just read what Bill Gross, the billionare bond investor of Pimco wrote: “…Universities are run for the benefit of the adult establishment, both politically and financially, not students. To radically change the system and to question the sanctity of a college education would […]
UPenn Vice-Provost Encourages More Tests But There is a Rub.
September 26, 2013 by
Prof Emanuel, Vice Provost and Professor at the Univ. of Penn., has a nice article on testing in The New Republic http://www.newrepublic.com/article/114793/american-schools-need-more-testing-not-less He has a good idea. But will it really be testing when put into practice? I directed his readers to my article. Here is what I wrote. “As someone who taught mathematics for […]
Is The Atlantic Right to Report on a Report the Way it Did?
September 25, 2013 by
I previously commented on an article about a paper by the president of Northwestern, Northwestern President Publishes Study About Northwestern And the National Bureau of Economic Research Publishes It? The paper apparently is getting lots of publicity and The Atlantic published a second post on it, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/09/are-tenured-professors-really-worse-teachers-a-lit-review/279940/#comments I don’t agree with some of the reporter’s […]
Community Colleges Work to Keep Students – Maybe Danger Ahead?
September 20, 2013 by
There is an informative article in the WSJ, Community Colleges Try to Revamp Image to Keep Students In Bid to Boost Graduation Rates, Schools Add Housing and Other Perks http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323342404579081201987159562.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5#articleTabs%3Darticle Their approach may be ok, but I wrote that I worry, since “The shortest path to more graduation is littered with less education. That’s the path […]
Time Magazine Writes That Americans Have Feelings About Online Education?
Unfortunately, “feelings” is probably the right word. Here is a link. http://nation.time.com/2013/10/16/americans-have-mixed-feelings-about-online-education/ Here is my view which I put in my comment. “Let’s see. Jon Meacham recently wrote, “…barely half [of college graduates] knew that the U.S. Constitution establishes the separation of powers. Forty-three percent failed to identify John Roberts as Chief Justice; 62% didn’t […]