The Washington Post examines the elements of critical thinking and how to foster it. Writer Valerie Strauss notes, "What teachers and parents should do, experts say, is make sure students know the difference between memorizing material and understanding it, that students are open to different ways of thinking and that they learn as much as they can about as much as they can." Visit here to read the full report.
Excerpt:
It might, in fact, be easier to say what critical thinking is not. It is not simply being critical or asking a lot of questions, or being analytical or logical. There is more involved, as is suggested by the phrase's Greek roots: "kriticos," or discerning judgment, and "kriterion," or standards.
*Raise vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely.
*Gather and assess relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret effectively.
*Reach well-reasoned conclusions and solutions and test them against relevant criteria and standards.
*Think open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought.
*Communicate effectively with others to solve complex problems.
"The easiest way to encourage critical thinking is to force [students] to question everything."
"Question me, question their parents, their pastor, everything," he said. "It doesn't mean you can't believe, but you must question. Is it true? Is it opinion? Is it justified by fact? . . . Students eventually learn to analyze. Some will do it better than others, but you can always get them to at least question."
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Monday, March 03, 2008
Unprepared freshmen
60 University of Washington professors signed on an open letter to voice their concern about incoming freshmen's readiness for college level studies. Click here to read the full report.
Many college freshmen can't do basic math, and some instructors are dumbing down their classes to accommodate them, a group of University of Washington math, science and engineering professors warned in an open letter released Thursday.
"This is a big issue for us at the University of Washington," said Cliff Mass, a professor in the UW's atmospheric sciences department who gathered the 60 signatures on the letter.
He and his colleagues have noticed a rising number of students in their freshman classes who are unable to solve math problems at even a middle school level, indicating there are serious problems with how the subject is taught in the state, he said.
Physics Department Chairman David Boulware said he co-signed the letter because he's appalled that students don't have a better grasp on math by the time they get to college.
"They're confounded by simple algebra," he said.
Many college freshmen can't do basic math, and some instructors are dumbing down their classes to accommodate them, a group of University of Washington math, science and engineering professors warned in an open letter released Thursday.
"This is a big issue for us at the University of Washington," said Cliff Mass, a professor in the UW's atmospheric sciences department who gathered the 60 signatures on the letter.
He and his colleagues have noticed a rising number of students in their freshman classes who are unable to solve math problems at even a middle school level, indicating there are serious problems with how the subject is taught in the state, he said.
Physics Department Chairman David Boulware said he co-signed the letter because he's appalled that students don't have a better grasp on math by the time they get to college.
"They're confounded by simple algebra," he said.
Friday, February 29, 2008
That fat envelope from your college is conditional
Slackers, beware! That fat envelope is conditional. If your grades drop, some colleges won't hesitate to take it back.
That'w what New York Times Upfront reported on Feb 25, 2008.
You may have gotten a thick envelope with a congratulatory letter from the college admissions office. You may have told everyone where you're going. You're in, but remember: You're not done.
After being accepted at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pa., Isa Valera spent her last semester of high school doing everything except studying. When she wasn't at her two jobs, she focused on the prom and graduation from Frederick Douglass Academy in the Bronx, N.Y. Her grades fell from 80s and 90s to "barely passing."
Just weeks before classes began, the college got in touch: Admissions was rethinking her acceptance. Valera was ultimately allowed to enroll, but only after she had written a contrite letter and an additional essay, and agreed to meet monthly with the dean of admissions.
"Senioritis" has infected the college-bound since, oh, forever. But with record numbers of applicants and long waiting lists, colleges are in a better position to insist that students stay focused. More schools now check midyear and final transcripts, mailing warnings or calling students with fallen averages. With some colleges rescinding admission offers, the message that a college acceptance is conditional is finally getting through.
The University of Colorado at Boulder rescinded admission for 45 students in 2006.
The University of Washington revoked acceptances for 23 freshmen with poor final grades, and sent out 180 warning letters telling students the school was unhappy with their senior-year effort.
Philip A. Ballinger, Washington's admissions director, sees it as "a matter of fairness."
"If certain students decided they didn't want to be students their senior year, we shouldn't have them here," he explains.
Colleges don't receive final transcripts until June or July and may revoke admission as late as July or August--after students have given up spots at other colleges and have few options.
That'w what New York Times Upfront reported on Feb 25, 2008.
You may have gotten a thick envelope with a congratulatory letter from the college admissions office. You may have told everyone where you're going. You're in, but remember: You're not done.
After being accepted at Franklin & Marshall College, in Lancaster, Pa., Isa Valera spent her last semester of high school doing everything except studying. When she wasn't at her two jobs, she focused on the prom and graduation from Frederick Douglass Academy in the Bronx, N.Y. Her grades fell from 80s and 90s to "barely passing."
Just weeks before classes began, the college got in touch: Admissions was rethinking her acceptance. Valera was ultimately allowed to enroll, but only after she had written a contrite letter and an additional essay, and agreed to meet monthly with the dean of admissions.
"Senioritis" has infected the college-bound since, oh, forever. But with record numbers of applicants and long waiting lists, colleges are in a better position to insist that students stay focused. More schools now check midyear and final transcripts, mailing warnings or calling students with fallen averages. With some colleges rescinding admission offers, the message that a college acceptance is conditional is finally getting through.
The University of Colorado at Boulder rescinded admission for 45 students in 2006.
The University of Washington revoked acceptances for 23 freshmen with poor final grades, and sent out 180 warning letters telling students the school was unhappy with their senior-year effort.
Philip A. Ballinger, Washington's admissions director, sees it as "a matter of fairness."
"If certain students decided they didn't want to be students their senior year, we shouldn't have them here," he explains.
Colleges don't receive final transcripts until June or July and may revoke admission as late as July or August--after students have given up spots at other colleges and have few options.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Free tuition @ Stanford University
Stanford University announced this morning that the school will give free tuition and free room and board to students from lower and middle-income families who meet certain guidelines, under an expanded financial-aid program. Visit here for detail.
Stanford is adding $20.7 million to its financial aid program - the largest single increase in the school's history - a move that means students from families with incomes of less than $100,000 will no longer pay tuition.
Students whose family incomes are less than $60,000 will also not have to pay the costs of room, board and other expenses.
"Families with incomes above $100,000 are going to see much more generous treatment than they have in previous years. We'll still be doing a traditional analysis of their need. We've changed some of the ways we look at that, so it's a more generous assessment."
Stanford is adding $20.7 million to its financial aid program - the largest single increase in the school's history - a move that means students from families with incomes of less than $100,000 will no longer pay tuition.
Students whose family incomes are less than $60,000 will also not have to pay the costs of room, board and other expenses.
"Families with incomes above $100,000 are going to see much more generous treatment than they have in previous years. We'll still be doing a traditional analysis of their need. We've changed some of the ways we look at that, so it's a more generous assessment."
Are you ready for college writing?
According to a survey conducted by the Chronicl of Higher Education, 94% of college professors said that incoming freshmen are not prepared to tackle college level writing. Many educators blame high schools that they don't provide students with a writing intensive curriculum.
Tuft University's student newspaper reported this:
Dave Valdes-Greenwood, an English lecturer and first-year writing teacher at Tufts, said that even AP English courses can leave students' writing skills lacking. Valdes-Greenwood explained that AP writing, though advanced, is still not on the same level as college writing."Honestly, the AP students I have had tend to have a greater wealth of references and past models to work from, but many of them still find the adjustment to college writing [to be] hard,"
"What often trips up an AP student is discovering that good high school writing is still high school writing - I can't tell you the number of students I've had who never got less than an A before their first paper in my class," he said.
"The main difference is that much high school writing is very unadorned - thesis, a body, a conclusion - while better college writing involves more style and sophistication."
Here is something to think about:
“Regardless of a student’s major, the ability to formulate and analyze arguments, both orally and in writing, is absolutely essential to academic success … . We can develop these skills at the postsecondary level, but students need to get a solid foundation in these basics when they are in high school, or they will fall behind quickly in college.”
-English professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
"It is a myth that mathematics and math-dependent majors in college do not require strong reading and writing skills. Students have to be able to comprehend complex informational text so they can identify which mathematical operations and concepts to apply to solve a particular problem."
-Economics professor, San Francisco State University
"You can be an excellent mathematician, but if you don't have a complement of verbal skills ... you’ll never be promoted. If you’re looking for high performance, you have to marry the two.
-Supervisor at a small engineering office
Tuft University's student newspaper reported this:
Dave Valdes-Greenwood, an English lecturer and first-year writing teacher at Tufts, said that even AP English courses can leave students' writing skills lacking. Valdes-Greenwood explained that AP writing, though advanced, is still not on the same level as college writing."Honestly, the AP students I have had tend to have a greater wealth of references and past models to work from, but many of them still find the adjustment to college writing [to be] hard,"
"What often trips up an AP student is discovering that good high school writing is still high school writing - I can't tell you the number of students I've had who never got less than an A before their first paper in my class," he said.
"The main difference is that much high school writing is very unadorned - thesis, a body, a conclusion - while better college writing involves more style and sophistication."
Here is something to think about:
“Regardless of a student’s major, the ability to formulate and analyze arguments, both orally and in writing, is absolutely essential to academic success … . We can develop these skills at the postsecondary level, but students need to get a solid foundation in these basics when they are in high school, or they will fall behind quickly in college.”
-English professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
"It is a myth that mathematics and math-dependent majors in college do not require strong reading and writing skills. Students have to be able to comprehend complex informational text so they can identify which mathematical operations and concepts to apply to solve a particular problem."
-Economics professor, San Francisco State University
"You can be an excellent mathematician, but if you don't have a complement of verbal skills ... you’ll never be promoted. If you’re looking for high performance, you have to marry the two.
-Supervisor at a small engineering office
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Princeton University creates a "gap year" program
Princeton University will be the first school to create a program for students who opt to take a "gap year" before checking into college according to the New York Times article. "Gap Year" means "a period of time taken by a student to travel or work, often after high school or before starting graduate school, as a break from formal education" and it was started in the UK in the 1960s when college-bound students traveled to India on the infamous Hippie Trails.
Here is the news excerpt:
Princeton's president, Shirley M. Tilghman, said in an interview that such a program would give students a more international perspective, add to their maturity and give them a break from academic pressures. She called it a year of "cleansing the palate of high school, giving them a year to regroup."
"People are too young when they start college," said Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education. "This way, they would have a year to mature, and they can do something constructive."
Some of you may want to take a gap year to think clearly about what you want to get out of your college education, and your course of study and future career plans.
Here is the news excerpt:
Princeton's president, Shirley M. Tilghman, said in an interview that such a program would give students a more international perspective, add to their maturity and give them a break from academic pressures. She called it a year of "cleansing the palate of high school, giving them a year to regroup."
"People are too young when they start college," said Allan E. Goodman, president of the Institute of International Education. "This way, they would have a year to mature, and they can do something constructive."
Some of you may want to take a gap year to think clearly about what you want to get out of your college education, and your course of study and future career plans.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Asian-Americans face tough time in college admissions
Harvard University's student newspaper Crimson reported that Asian-Americans face a higher wall in college admissions in spite of their strong academic performances:
In a system where one group is deemed "overrepresented," such as Asian Americans under current admissions schemes, it is inevitable that other "underrepresented" groups will gain ground...
In 1990, the federal government investigated Harvard for discriminating against Asian applicants. The investigation found that lower admission rates for Asians—despite somewhat stronger academic credentials—could be attributed to legacy and athlete preferences, which primarily benefited white applicants.
You may want to visit this website which deals with a variety of issues related to Asian-Americans, including college, law school, and medial school admissions.
In a system where one group is deemed "overrepresented," such as Asian Americans under current admissions schemes, it is inevitable that other "underrepresented" groups will gain ground...
In 1990, the federal government investigated Harvard for discriminating against Asian applicants. The investigation found that lower admission rates for Asians—despite somewhat stronger academic credentials—could be attributed to legacy and athlete preferences, which primarily benefited white applicants.
You may want to visit this website which deals with a variety of issues related to Asian-Americans, including college, law school, and medial school admissions.
Reading in the digital era
The renowned Harvard professor Howard Gardner wrote an article on "reading in the new digital media era" for Washington Post. He wrote:
Even in the new digital media, it's essential to be able to read and write fluently and, if you want to capture people's attention, to write well. Of course, what it means to "write well" changes: Virginia Woolf didn't write the same way that Jane Austen did, and Arianna Huffington's blog won't be confused with Walter Lippmann's columns. But the imaginative spheres and real-world needs that all those written words address remain...
Nowadays, as clinical psychologist Sherry Turkle has pointed out, young people seem to have a compulsion to stay in touch with one another all the time; periods of lonely silence or privacy seem toxic. If this lust for 24/7 online networking continues, one of the dividends of book reading may fade away. The wealth of different literacies and the ease of moving among them -- on an iPhone, for example -- may undermine the once-hallowed status of books.
In short, no matter which media we choose to communicate one another and increase our cognitive power, the message is clear: "Do not stop reading."
Even in the new digital media, it's essential to be able to read and write fluently and, if you want to capture people's attention, to write well. Of course, what it means to "write well" changes: Virginia Woolf didn't write the same way that Jane Austen did, and Arianna Huffington's blog won't be confused with Walter Lippmann's columns. But the imaginative spheres and real-world needs that all those written words address remain...
Nowadays, as clinical psychologist Sherry Turkle has pointed out, young people seem to have a compulsion to stay in touch with one another all the time; periods of lonely silence or privacy seem toxic. If this lust for 24/7 online networking continues, one of the dividends of book reading may fade away. The wealth of different literacies and the ease of moving among them -- on an iPhone, for example -- may undermine the once-hallowed status of books.
In short, no matter which media we choose to communicate one another and increase our cognitive power, the message is clear: "Do not stop reading."
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Is college ranking important for you?
The recent report, UCLA Freshman survey: Fall 2007, says that many college applicants (82.4%) do not consider national rankings provided by major news magazines like US News & Report as important as college presidents and admissions deans would have believed.
Here is the actual UCLA Survey question and top 15 reasons that this conclusion was based on.
Q. Reasons noted as "very important" in influencing a student's decision to attend this particular college:
Here is the actual UCLA Survey question and top 15 reasons that this conclusion was based on.
Q. Reasons noted as "very important" in influencing a student's decision to attend this particular college:
- College has very good academic reputation 63.0%
- This college's graduates get good jobs 51.9%
- A visit to the campus 40.4%
- I was offered financial assistance 39.4%
- Wanted to go to a college this size 38.9%
- College has a good reputation for social activities 37.1%
- The cost of attending this college 36.8%
- Grads get into good grad/professional schools 34.1%
- Wanted to live near home 19.2%
- Rankings in national magazines 17.6%
- Information from a website 17.0%
- Parents wanted me to go to this school 13.0%
- Admitted early decision and/or early action 11.4%
- Could not afford first choice 9.7%
- High school counselor advised me 9.0%
Gender biased college admissions
- Student A: Male, GPA 3.6 with 4 APs, SAT 2050
- Student B: Female, GAP 3.7 with 5 APs, SAT 2100
Who do you think has an edge to get into a competitve college that has the student body ratio of female and male, 68% vs. 32%. Of course, any college that struggles with the shortage of qualified male students will choose student A to balance their student body. That's what the researchers at US News & World Report found:
When researchers at US News & World Report magazine analyzed data from more than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities, they found that in the past decade, many schools had maintained gender balance by admitting many more men than women, even when the women candidates were more qualified.
In addition to gender, race, income, geographical distributions, institutional needs, and many other factors play a crucial role in college admission process. No wonder then, no one knows for sure why certain students with impeccable records don't make while some with umpressed achievements still penetrate the narrow college gate.
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