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Alex Chediak

Helping young adults thrive at college and beyond

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Should College Students Aim for High Grades or Optimal Learning?

March 14, 2011 by Alex Chediak

The subtitle of Academically Adrift is “Limited Learning on College Campuses.” The book is a sustained argument that, on balance, a surprisingly small amount of learning actually occurs in college for many people that attend. I agree wholeheartedly. The academic chapters of Thriving at College are my humble attempt to help students escape this sad trend – to actually learn a lot at college. Yet here’s the problem that Arum and Roksa articulate so well: Many in college are happy with the way it is – they think limited learning is just fine, since social and relational goals are being accomplished. So is limited learning in college a “crisis”? No, argue Arum and Roksa, because the system works:

“Students…seek to enjoy the benefits of a full collegiate experience that is focused as much on social life as on academic pursuits, while earning high marks in their courses with relatively little investment of effort. Professors are eager to find time to concentrate on their scholarship and professional interests. Administrators have been asked to focus largely on external institutional rankings and the financial bottom line. Government funding agencies are primarily interested in the development of new scientific knowledge. In short, the system works.”

I think social/relational development are important (I devote three chapters to them), but they don’t displace the role of intellectual development, which is not only just as important, it should happen in a unique way during the college years. There are many other legitimate post-high school experiences that can facilitate significant social/relational development. College uniquely shapes the mind, the intellect. In Thriving at College, I argue that students should not seek to “earn high marks in their courses with relatively little investment of effort.”  Instead, they should aim to learn as much as possible, and let their grade be the byproduct of their learning. Here’s a quote:

“You are in college to learn how to think so that you can, for the rest of your life, increasingly love God with a well-trained mind, a mind that can analytically break down an argument, discover logical fallacies, communicate effectively, and be able to manipulate numbers and spreadsheets (all remarkably practical skills)…….

So remember that a lot of what you’re picking up in class is going to enable you to think and live well. Solving physics problems will help you spot weaknesses in your company’s sales plan. A history class is not about memorizing a bunch of useless dates, places, and events; it’s an opportunity to understand how the past shapes the present, to become conversant on political issues in our day so as to better understand the changing world we live in, to differentiate between historical facts and the opinions of commentators, and to articulate your own perspectives in a clear, coherent manner.”

Learn more about the book, or pre-order it today. I’ve heard good things.  🙂

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Filed Under: Thriving at College, Culture, Practical Ministry

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Beating the College Debt Trap book cover224 pages. Please allow 7-10 days for delivery.
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Preparing Your Teens for College book cover 448 pages. Please allow 7-10 days for delivery. Sales tax will be added for California purchases, as required by law. For orders to Canada, please contact us. (See also CASE DISCOUNTS below.) No PayPal account required to place order. (Debit or Credit card will work.)

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Thriving at College book cover1 CASE = 28 COPIES
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Beating the College Debt Trap book cover1 CASE = 44 COPIES
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$189.99


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Amazon Book Bomb for Thriving at College"There is no better guide to college."
--Alex and Brett Harris

"Insightful and useful."
--Randy Alcorn

"Written by an ‘insider’—an excellent gift for high school seniors."--Jerry Bridges

 

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"A sharp tool." Tedd Tripp

"Outstanding book on preparing teens for adulthood." Jerry Bridges

"Highly recommended.” Josh McDowell

 

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Also by Alex

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With One Voice

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Praise for With One Voice

This relatively short book packs a powerful bang for the buck, providing much biblical and practical advice for young men and women seeking to glorify God in relationships.

Alex and Brett Harris
Best-selling authors of Do Hard Things

Alex and Marni Chediak offer sound biblical advice and a clear Christian framework for working through the maze of confusions surrounding modern marriage.

R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Publishers have been cranking out books with all sorts of directions to help Christians navigate the treacherous waters between the buoys of singleness and marriage, and I know of none that is more clear, concise and helpful than With One Voice.

J. Ligon Duncan, III Ph.D.
Senior Minister, First Presbyterian Church

With One Voice is clearly written and God-centered. Our eighteen year-old daughter just read it and restrained herself from underlining nearly the whole thing!

Dr. Bruce A. Ware
Professor of Christian Theology
The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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  • Practical Ministry

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