How Can Frank Bruni Be Excited About Change in K-12 Without Change in Higher Ed?

Change in K-12 does matter but I don’t see how it can help a lot without the change in higher ed that I advocate here.  Here is a link to his op-ed, followed by my comment. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/29/opinion/bruni-a-bold-bid-for-better-schools.html?ref=opinion&comments&_r=0 ” From whence cometh these teachers?  They cometh from the universities, many of whom seek fame and fortune […]

If They Aren’t Learning, Why Does It Matter What They Aren’t Learning

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 […]

Professor Alfred Doesn’t Know What is Wrong with the Homework

(At a regional public university) That’s right, he really doesn’t.  I know because he told me.  I will tell the story here.  It is not nice to make fun of Prof. Alfred (a real person but made-up name), and that is not my purpose.  (He is actually a very nice person.) But it is important […]

According to OECD, Most Workers Who Feel Overqualified Aren’t. So Why? Have They Been Conned?

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 […]

Should JP Morgan Run U. of Delaware’s PhD Program in “financial services analytics”?

There is a new post in The Atlantic about the program.  The post concludes with an interview with a U. of Del. political science faculty member who opposes the new program and explains how much is required to pass muster at U. of Del. and have a program.  He says, “…The senate gives careful review […]

Good Short Article in The Atlantic with Informative Table.

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.

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 […]

Wonderful Essay on Education and Society in WSJ

Here is the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324577304579055511904387286.html?mod=WSJ_Opinion_LEFTTopOpinion#articleTabs%3Darticle It was hard to comment on this article since it was so good.  I agree with it wholeheartedly.  I did add information that readers of this blog already know.  Here is what I wrote. “Thank you for this wonderful essay. From my perspective as a former professor, I think it […]

Are Some US News Top Ranked Schools Not Really Preparing STEM Grads Well?

The National Science Foundation published a list of the top 50 schools for producing graduates that go on to a doctorate in Science or Engineering.  This should be a decent measure of how well they are educating their STEM undergrads.  (You can find the list with some additional info added here: Baccalaureate to Ph.D. in […]