A Learning College for the 21st Century: Education is in Trouble

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Education is in Trouble

In the 1983 report of A Nation at Risk, it states that "The American imperative for the twenty-first century is that society must hold higher education to much higher expectations or risk national decline" (p. 3). I found this interesting that this was examined almost 30 years ago and I find that we are still facing this issue today. I think today, especially with the economy, expectation for higher education has declined. It is further quoted, "Education is in trouble, and with it our nation's hope for the future. America's ability to compete in a global economy is threatened....The capacity for the United States to shoulder its responsibilities on the world stage is at risk" (p. 3). Students have expectations such as their own roles, responsibilities and commitment to the university they are attending. Students may develop unrealistically high expectations or may hold low expectations. Students’ expectations pertain to both quality and personal relevance. However, the realities of higher education is played out over both short and long term goals. Universities care about the day-to-day experiences, such as services, facilities and the in-class experience. Universities also are concerned about the career and life outcomes that obtaining a degree might make possible for students. But with this economy, expectations are dwindling on both sides. Students are expecting to get a decent job once they graduate with a Bachelor degree, but this is not the case for a lot of graduates. With higher education funding being cut in all directions it is hard for universities to meet the expectations of students and society.

Do you think we have reached national decline or that "education is in trouble" according to these quotes? If not, what are your hopes for the future in higher education?

2 comments:

Lynne VernoJuly 23, 2010 at 1:57 PM
In reading this I am wondering how much of a change agent technology/online learning will contribute to the future of higher education, as it will put education in reach of so many more people - and we now have a generation that has had access and understanding of computers their entire life.
These advances will impact education globally and within the stucture of universities themselves.
ReplyDelete
Replies
The MailmanAugust 2, 2010 at 9:08 AM
I do not know if I can answer your question as I do not have enough background on this subject. Certainly the author feels this way. I find the quote you have posted quite enlightening, "we are trimming the branches of a dying tree". Maybe we need less government in our education system.
I have two boys in College at major Universities, and I find that their learning is a direct effect of the instructor. They complain about the ones who only talk about research, but have not related experience, and rave about the ones that make the course information relevant and exciting. Perhaps our instructors need more training in techniques that inspire learning.
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Quotes

When Describing Educational Reform - "All of these solutions work toward trimming the branches, when attacking the root is the only viable source of action" (p. 7).

"The reform movement of the past decade has been trimming the branches of a dying tree" (p. 7).

"Putting learning at the heart of the academic enterprise will mean overhauling the conceptual, procedural, curricular, and other architecture of postsecondary education on most campuses" (p.9)

"The student has always been the first priority in the community college, and the current interest in learning is the next evolutionary step in the continuing quest for quality education" (p. 28).

"The purpose of teaching is to help students make passionate connections to learning" (p. 28).

"Technology is like a Swiss army knife, in adept hands, it has many uses including that of opening a 'can of worms'" (p. 70).

"For technology to 'work' in the classroom, there has to be a convincing pedagogy and rationale behind it" (p. 82).

"The world is not won by those who are right. It is won by those who can convince other they are right" (p. 130).

"The community college as an institution is one of the most important innovations in the history of higher education" (p. 232).

About Author - Terry O'Banion

Terry O'Banion, Ph.D., is president and CEO of the League for Innovation in the Community College, an international consortium of leading community colleges in the United States and Canada dedicated to experimentation and innovation. He is the author of 12 books, including Teaching and Learning in the Community College, Innovation in the Community College, and Teachers for Tomorrow: Staff Development in the Community Junior College. During a 36-year tenure in community college education, he served as dean of students at two Florida community colleges and as professor of community college education at the University of Illinois in Urbana. Dr. O'Banion has written more than 100 articles on community college issues and has been a consultant to over 500 community colleges and universities in 45 states and Canada. He earned a doctorate in administration in higher education from Florida State University and holds a master's degree in guidance and counseling from the University of Florida.