LO and Higher Ed LO7720

Dr. Ivan Blanco (BLANCO@BU4090.BARRY.EDU)
Mon, 3 Jun 1996 11:41:59 -0400 (EDT)

Replying to LO7586 --

> Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 22:24:38 -0500
> From: Jonette Alexander <jmalexander@popalex1.linknet.net>
>
> Earlier this month I graduated from Baylor University...and realized the
> decided gaps in my education. All at once I became unemployedand with a
> $60k undergraduate education, felt decidly overrated. For an organization
> that is the literal meaning of a learning organization, I feel that there
> are gaps in what I have learned.

I am not sure that universities in the U.S., and in some other
countriesm, can be considered "learning organizations." I see them more
as organizations of learning, but not as LO!

> Problems in Universities
>
> I agree that the educational processes in universities are flawed. The
> old listen and regurgitate continues. However, through the guidance of
> more than one professor, I was taught more than a few things that will
> continue to stick with me. Continually in many of my classes we tried to
> figure out where will the world go in the future and especially Baylor.

The problem is that the number of professors who help students
learn how to learn is still a very small minority. It is so small that,
in many places, it feels like they do not exist.

> Baylor has not, and I doubt; will ever get rid of the tenure system.
> Currently, students are asked to evaluate their professors. The problem
> with this is that professors do not feel that students (their clients)
> should have the right to evaluate them. The evaluations coupled with
> several other criteria; including self-evaulations and other staff and
> faculty evaluations, help determine the professors pay increase for the
> upcoming year.

One of the strongest mental models we hold in higher education is
that our students are just kids (immature?), and don't know what is good
for them. Then how could they tell us what is effective teaching, etc.?
In many instances, I have heard the expression "We are the ones with the
PhD's, after all." I agree that there are areas that students many be
able to tell, such as how knowlegeable a professor might be. But students
can tell whether we are well prepared for classes, if we are effective
communicators, etc.

> Lack of practical experience the main problems for most Grads
>
> However, I feel that the main problem with most degree programs on the
> collegiate level is that an internship is not required. I have a Human
> Resource Major and a Corporate Communication minor. I can spout out all
> of the theory in the world and compare and contrast it to Maslow's
> hierachy of needs. But I have not been required to construct an employee
> handbook (which I did on my own) or figure out how to determine pay
> ranges. All of these are essential functions that I will have to perform
> in the future. I learned the basic theory behind these functions but not
> how to do them.
>
> How can the business world and educational system help for the future?
>
> I firmly believe that educational institutes should require internships
> and more hands on activities. How else is one supposed to get experience.
> The corporate community can help by offering more internships. This
> really does help the corporation become a learning organization bringing
> in new ideas and someone with tons of energy to help drive these new ideas
> can only benefit the company.
>
> Jonette Alexander <jmalexander@popalex1.linknet.net>

I think that it was Leo Buscaglia ("Living, Loving & Learning")
who said that "you can't give what you don't have." You won't find a high
number of business professors with any practical business experience,
other than what they did as part-time workers while in school. This does
not help us understand the value of and push for the development of an
internship program for our students. David Fearon and I have discussed
this point in a working paper, and even supported the notion that the
internship program should be extended to the faculty themselves. This is
one way we can develop some practical understanding of our own fields, and
will be in a better position to help our students too.

If you check with community colleges, you may be able to
experience a better balance between theory and practice. MOst of the
faculty possess the theoretical base that we have in our universities, and
also have full time "real" jobs or have accumulated many years of
practical experience.

BTW, Peter Senge ("The Fifth Discipline"), discusses personal
mastery and emphasizes that "very few organizations encourage the growth
of their people in..." a manner that supports personal mastery. He quotes
Hannover's CEO O'Brien as saying "People enter business as bright,
well-educated, high-energy people, full of energy and desire to make a
difference. ... By the time they are 30, a few are on the 'fast track' and
the rest 'put in their time' to do what matters to them on the weekend..."
As I see the situation, very few professors are on the fast track!

-- Ivan,

--

*************************************************************** R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515 Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412 International Business Programs Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________ Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu <<<<< ---------------- >>>>> "Si un hombre fuera necesario para sostener el Estado, este Estado no deberia existir." "If one man were necessary to sustain a Nation, this Nation should not exist." Simon Bolivar ===============================================================

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