Resistance is futile, hence I brought this over.
Whipping out that degree ladened resume just may not be the answer to all of life's questions.
Dummyland link Squeeze here>
Study: Many College Students Not Learning to Think Critically
Edited on Tue Jan-18-11 01:30 AM by Hissyspit
Source: McClatchy Newspapers
Posted on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Study: Many college students not learning to think critically
By Sara Rimer, The Hechinger Report | The Hechinger Report
NEW YORK — An unprecedented study that followed several thousand undergraduates through four years of college found that large numbers didn't learn the critical thinking, complex reasoning and written communication skills that are widely assumed to be at the core of a college education.
Many of the students graduated without knowing how to sift fact from opinion, make a clear written argument or objectively review conflicting reports of a situation or event, according to New York University sociologist Richard Arum, lead author of the study. The students, for example, couldn't determine the cause of an increase in neighborhood crime or how best to respond without being swayed by emotional testimony and political spin.
- snip -
Forty-five percent of students made no significant improvement in their critical thinking, reasoning or writing skills during the first two years of college, according to the study. After four years, 36 percent showed no significant gains in these so-called "higher order" thinking skills.
Combining the hours spent studying and in class, students devoted less than a fifth of their time each week to academic pursuits. By contrast, students spent 51 percent of their time — or 85 hours a week — socializing or in extracurricular activities.
Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/18/106949/study-many...
My mom use to say she was educated at the College of Hard Knocks. Her ability to think and reason put many a college educated liberal to shame.
Common Sense Party (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-18-11 01:32 AM
Response to Original message
1. Also in the news, New Study finds: Water Still Wet.
This has been under way for a loooong time.
Why yes, yes it has. Makes you think about the high prices paid for a 'college education' doesn't it.
Buzz Clik (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-18-11 07:15 AM
Response to Reply #1
32. Did colleges ever explicitly teach critical thinking?
Students should start the process of critical thinking in kindergarten. If students arrive at college as freshmen with reduced skills compared to 10, 20 or 50 years ago, you can be guaranteed that the finished product with be similarly inferior.
This will not end well. Never cast aspersions on BigEd or his bro SPED. Not a good idea.
Hardrada (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-18-11 01:47 AM
Response to Original message
7. I remember profs trying to get the thought processes
Edited on Tue Jan-18-11 01:47 AM by Hardrada
of some of my classmates going. Didn't work for most of them. They just went on into tech or biz and raised families, made some bread, and voted repuke if they voted and now are dyin off still without original thoughts. The way of the world, I suppose.
Wait for it.....
bluestateguy (1000+ posts) Tue Jan-18-11 01:53 AM
Response to Original message
8. They have all come of age through No Child Left Behind bullshit
and when they find college isn't that way, they can't handle it.
There you have it, all the fault of the Evil Ted Kennedy / Geo Bush NCLB. Great minds?
This is going to have to be a post an run, the brown eyed girl hopping around legs crossed giving me that "I gotta go look".
There are more great comments at the link.
