Mark & Juanita wrote:



... and at least when I was going through college in the late '70s,
early 80s, the professors in those fields would tell the class that
their goal should be the "joy of learning" or "to become a well-rounded
and educated individual". Those of us in the engineering curriculum
would simply nod, fulfill the course requirements, and move on, somehow
knowing that there should have been more than a little bit of motivation
to find something that would provide value for someone in the future as
well.



That's the crime, at one time higher education was about learning. Now colleges
and universities are about getting jobs.

When the focus shifted one result was a major increase in graduates thinking
they learned everything they needed to learn in school. Usually it takes someone
with a little formal power, such as an employer, to break this thinking.
Unfortunately it's never completely broken. Try telling an engineer something
contrary to their book learning that you've learned from experience and personal
observation and unless you happen to hold an advanced degree they don't want to
believe you.

Another result was the teaching of the test and how to puke answers instead of
thinking. This is becoming rampant.





--

Mark

N.E. Ohio


Never argue with a fool, a bystander can't tell you apart. (S. Clemens, A.K.A.
Mark Twain)

When in doubt hit the throttle. It may not help but it sure ends the suspense.
(Gaz, r.moto)