When I first posted A Tale Out of School, along with the highly revealing emails from administrators and others, it got a lot of hits. I’m posting this “reminder and notice” for new visitors who may not be aware of the article and want to read it – or even read just the accompanying emails. I think […]
Need for Math to Study Econ – Excellent Description – But…
August 21, 2013 by
The post, http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2013/08/the-complete-guide-to-getting-into-an-economics-phd-program/278773/#comments , in The Atlantic gives a careful description of how much math is needed in econimics, except for one flaw. The authors conflate “course” with “content”. I discussed that in my comment, which I copied below. Still, I think it is an excellent and enlightening article. ” I am a math professor who […]
Worried they “just don’t get it”
May 31, 2013 by
Before I post a link to the most recent instant of this, an explanation is justified. Here is my worry. Too many newspapers, radio shows, tv commentators talk about a college “degree”. When someone points out that not all degrees represent an education, I worry that the authors, etc… think, “Everyone knows that not all […]
Two sides to the “online course coin”
May 30, 2013 by
There is an article in today’s Wall Street Journal titled “Web Courses Woo Professors: Online Firm Opens Way for More Educators to Create Their Own Internet Classes” http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324682204578513541557842934.html?mod=WSJ__MIDDLENexttoWhatsNewsThird#articleTabs%3Dcomments I commented about my worries after reading these two paragraphs that I think show both sides of the coin. First, the good side, “I think that what […]
How does your course compare?
December 10, 2012 by
Let’s say you are taking a course in Calculus (or Differential Equations, or whatever) and you want to know if it is up to snuff. I suggest that students go to the MIT OCW (OpenCourseWare) site (http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm) and look up the same course there. You can find the course description, homework problems, old exams and a list of […]
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 […]