Tina Norris Fields
tinanfields at torchlake.com
Thu Jun 12 07:14:27 CDT 2003
Mark, We have been ignoring the problem much too long. We already are graduating generations of functionally illiterate adults. Think of how many people cannot write a coherent English sentence. In a time when we are ever more dependent upon computers, which must be told exactly what to do, in terms they can understand, where the absence of a semicolon or a period will blow code right out of the water - is this the time to give up on teaching language skills and critical thinking? If we no longer can say what we mean, or even be certain of what we do mean, how can we properly program and control these stupid machines? I once taught an "electronic spreadsheet" course for my local college, and discovered in the first day of class that 5 of my 16 students could not figure out percentage and that 2 had gone all the way through high school without learning any Algebra. They all expected the program to do the analytical thinking for them and were apalled that they would have to figure out what their formulas should be. After I got over the shock, I redesigned the course to include the needed skills and experience. And, yes, I built all my quizzes and exams as real problems and projects - absolutely no "multiple guess" questions. I hate those. Almost always, a good case can be made for more than one answer, but only the officially RIGHT answer gets any credit at all. Okay, I'll quit ranting. Tina Mitsules, Mark wrote: >As an aside... I was told this morning from a spouse of a local elementary >school teacher that the principal of said school has decided NOT to hold >back a single student this year. Students with unsatisfactory (we can't say >"failing", can we?) grades across the board are being sent on regardless of >teacher recommendations. Of course the principal is only part of the >problem. The teacher is also aware of parents (most?, some?, all?) who were >advised to hold back their child have chosen instead to let their child >continue on. > > >...I suppose if we ignore the problem long enough, it will eventually go >away. :( > > > >Mark > > >-----Original Message----- >From: John Colby [mailto:jcolby at colbyconsulting.com] >Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 11:09 AM >To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com >Subject: [AccessD] OT: the "Education" system > > >I read something long ago that would indicate why this is so. According to >this article, the university system as we know it got it's start in the >middle ages. The average Joe did not go to school, did not know how to read >or write. Universities were originally designed to "educate" the sons and >daughters of the ruling class. The intended subjects of the system did not >work, they ruled. They had no need to "go get a job". They needed skills >distinctly different from those needed today. > >Unfortunately those in power in the university system do it "the way it has >always been done". A classic example of this is the ludicrous practice of >forcing medical interns to stay on duty 48 hours at a time with only a >couple of hours sleep. Everyone acknowledges that this is dangerous, to the >interns and even more so to the poor slob being seen by these sleep deprived >interns. But... "that's the way it has always been done". > >And so we live in a world where the college graduate has been forced to do >the "choose two from basket weaving, choose two from music, choose two from >science". Yep, been there, done that. What a waste. > >And of course the defenders of the system CLAIM that the purpose is not to >train them to do a particular job (which is actually a good thing) but to >learn how to think. If only that were true! > >Try disputing anything the professor says and see how fast you are taught >NOT to think! > >John W. Colby >www.colbyconsulting.com > >-----Original Message----- >From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com >[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com]On Behalf Of Wortz, Charles >Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 10:48 AM >To: accessd at databaseadvisors.com >Subject: RE: [AccessD] OT? - Certification > > >Vlad, > >As a former college professor, I also notice that many of these "so called >Highly Qualified Graduates" are not only "regurgitators of info" with "no >people skills whatsoever" but also have no analytical skills. > >At most of the colleges and universities that I taught at I was the only >Computer Science faculty member that had any real-world experience as a >programmer/analyst. And I was the only one that designed my tests as >problems to solve, not multiple-guess or fill-in-the-blank type tests. I >wanted my students to learn how to analyze and solve problems, not >regurgitate data, which a trained monkey can do. > >One of the reasons I quit teaching is I got tired of butting heads with >departmental chairs and school deans that didn't understand there was a >difference between theoretical knowledge and practical knowledge and that >the graduate from a bachelor level program needs to have some practical >knowledge if he/she is to expect to find a job in the real world. Only >about 1% of the students could hope to become clones of their professors, >they rest needed to be able to survive in the real world. > >Charles Wortz >Software Development Division >Texas Education Agency >1701 N. Congress Ave >Austin, TX 78701-1494 >512-463-9493 >CWortz at tea.state.tx.us > > >_______________________________________________ >AccessD mailing list >AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com >_______________________________________________ >AccessD mailing list >AccessD at databaseadvisors.com >http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd >Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > >