A lengthy PDF excerpt of Thriving at College is now available, courtesy Tyndale House Publishers. [I've added it on the Thriving at College page.] … [Read more...] about Lengthy PDF Excerpt of Thriving at College
Thriving at College
David Brooks on Overconfidence, Modesty, and Restraint
David Brooks makes some excellent points in this NYT op-ed piece called The Modesty Manifesto. Brooks outlines how just about everyone today believes they're above average, whether or not we're particularly good at anything. For example, American students have tremendous confidence in their math skills, but overwhelmingly lag many other industrialized nations (e.g., South Korea). Writes Brooks: In a variety of books and articles, Jean M. Twenge of San Diego State University and W. Keith Campbell of the University of Georgia have collected data suggesting that American self-confidence has … [Read more...] about David Brooks on Overconfidence, Modesty, and Restraint
Should College Students Aim for High Grades or Optimal Learning?
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 … [Read more...] about Should College Students Aim for High Grades or Optimal Learning?
An NYC Charter School that Pays Every Teacher $125K
60 Minutes ran an interesting story last night on a charter school in NYC that operates out of trailers so as to redirect funds toward teacher pay: $125K per middle school teacher. In exchange, the teachers have no union, no tenure, and no contract. They are retained at will and can be dismissed at any time. They have high accountability, are expected to engage every student, and to demonstrate and track student learning. After the students go home, they watch video of one another teaching, offering constructive feedback, and seeking to help each other improve. Check it out: … [Read more...] about An NYC Charter School that Pays Every Teacher $125K
Limited Learning on College Campuses?
Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa write: "The typical student meets with faculty outside of the classroom only once per month, with 9 percent of students never meeting with faculty outside the classroom the previous semester. Although 85 percent of students have achieved a B-minus grade point average or higher, and 55 percent have attained a B-plus grade point average or higher, the average student studies less than two hours per day. Moreover, half of students have not taken a single course that required more than twenty pages of writing, and approximately one-third have not taken any courses … [Read more...] about Limited Learning on College Campuses?
President of Christian University Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
Trevor Persaud of Christianity Today has the latest: Palm Beach Atlantic University President Lu Hardin resigned suddenly on Friday and pled guilty on Monday to wire fraud and money laundering charges rooted in his previous job as president of the University of Central Arkansas. Hardin had headed the Florida-based interdenominational Christian school for only two years. For much of that time, his name has been a recurring feature of investigations into questionable financial dealings that took place during his time at UCA. This particular case involves a $300,000 deferred-compensation … [Read more...] about President of Christian University Pleads Guilty to Wire Fraud, Money Laundering