http://learnlongblog.com advancing the art of lifelong education & continuous learning Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:20:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://learnlongblog.com/2011/09/02/working-value-of-education/#comment-1176 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:20:51 +0000 http://learnlongblog.com/?p=1128#comment-1176 Reblogged this on red rabbit skills services | skills programme development and related services.

]]> http://learnlongblog.com/2012/02/28/what-is-higher-education-a-degree-or-something-else/#comment-1160 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:31:36 +0000 http://learnlongblog.com/?p=1493#comment-1160 Question 2 above should have read, “If I stick only to the curriculum and NOT focus on each student’s individual needs, am I really preparing them for the “real world” upon graduation, or am I merely setting the stage for disaster to happen?” Sorry.

]]> http://learnlongblog.com/2012/02/28/what-is-higher-education-a-degree-or-something-else/#comment-1159 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 05:23:32 +0000 http://learnlongblog.com/?p=1493#comment-1159 This is a very good topic. I currently teach in the School of Education at a college in Chicago, and a colleague and I were having a similar discussion the other day. We were discussing just how important it is for our students to have certain “predisposed and innate characteristics”, in addition to what we are teaching them in our program, to excel in their chosen careers, (which happens to be teaching). For instance, when they graduate and become teachers, how they run their classrooms, what they teach, and how they teach will not only be a reflection of what we taught them, but also a reflection of their own skill sets. So the question posed here, “What is Higher Education? A Degree or Something Else”, is a great question. In a sense, this question has prompted me to take a look at myself as an educator and assess if and how my job has changed over time. I do not believe in the “blank slate” theory, where our students come to us knowing nothing. They have knowledge and it my responsibility as an educator to tap into this knowledge and help them connect with the curriculum in ways that best fit their individual needs. The questions I have now are, 1) What is my role as educator? 2) If I stick only to the curriculum and focus on each student’s individual needs, am I really preparing them for the “real world” upon graduation, or am I merely setting the stage for disaster to happen? I hope I did not stray too far away from your initial intent of this blog.

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