Our Underachieving Colleges

A Candid Look at How Much Students Learn and Why They Should Be Learning More - New Edition

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Education & Teaching, Educational Theory, Educational Reform, Higher Education
Cover of the book Our Underachieving Colleges by Derek Bok, Princeton University Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Derek Bok ISBN: 9781400831333
Publisher: Princeton University Press Publication: February 28, 2009
Imprint: Princeton University Press Language: English
Author: Derek Bok
ISBN: 9781400831333
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication: February 28, 2009
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Language: English

Drawing on a large body of empirical evidence, former Harvard President Derek Bok examines how much progress college students actually make toward widely accepted goals of undergraduate education. His conclusions are sobering. Although most students make gains in many important respects, they improve much less than they should in such important areas as writing, critical thinking, quantitative skills, and moral reasoning. Large majorities of college seniors do not feel that they have made substantial progress in speaking a foreign language, acquiring cultural and aesthetic interests, or learning what they need to know to become active and informed citizens. Overall, despite their vastly increased resources, more powerful technology, and hundreds of new courses, colleges cannot be confident that students are learning more than they did fifty years ago.

Looking further, Bok finds that many important college courses are left to the least experienced teachers and that most professors continue to teach in ways that have proven to be less effective than other available methods. In reviewing their educational programs, however, faculties typically ignore this evidence. Instead, they spend most of their time discussing what courses to require, although the lasting impact of college will almost certainly depend much more on how the courses are taught.

In his final chapter, Bok describes the changes that faculties and academic leaders can make to help students accomplish more. Without ignoring the contributions that America's colleges have made, Bok delivers a powerful critique--one that educators will ignore at their peril.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Drawing on a large body of empirical evidence, former Harvard President Derek Bok examines how much progress college students actually make toward widely accepted goals of undergraduate education. His conclusions are sobering. Although most students make gains in many important respects, they improve much less than they should in such important areas as writing, critical thinking, quantitative skills, and moral reasoning. Large majorities of college seniors do not feel that they have made substantial progress in speaking a foreign language, acquiring cultural and aesthetic interests, or learning what they need to know to become active and informed citizens. Overall, despite their vastly increased resources, more powerful technology, and hundreds of new courses, colleges cannot be confident that students are learning more than they did fifty years ago.

Looking further, Bok finds that many important college courses are left to the least experienced teachers and that most professors continue to teach in ways that have proven to be less effective than other available methods. In reviewing their educational programs, however, faculties typically ignore this evidence. Instead, they spend most of their time discussing what courses to require, although the lasting impact of college will almost certainly depend much more on how the courses are taught.

In his final chapter, Bok describes the changes that faculties and academic leaders can make to help students accomplish more. Without ignoring the contributions that America's colleges have made, Bok delivers a powerful critique--one that educators will ignore at their peril.

More books from Princeton University Press

Cover of the book The New Deal by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Unsolved Problems in Mathematical Systems and Control Theory by Derek Bok
Cover of the book A Sacred Space Is Never Empty by Derek Bok
Cover of the book A Short History of Celebrity by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Hindu Nationalism by Derek Bok
Cover of the book In the Shadow of the Bomb by Derek Bok
Cover of the book I Hear My People Singing by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Euripides and the Politics of Form by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Of Sand or Soil by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Classification of Pseudo-reductive Groups (AM-191) by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Mere Possibilities by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Carnations by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Worldly Philosopher by Derek Bok
Cover of the book Mate Choice by Derek Bok
Cover of the book How Big Banks Fail and What to Do about It by Derek Bok
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy