Hi everyone! Here are a couple articles for you all to marinate on…
“New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition” describes a scholarship that will aid students who have attended public schools in the city since the ninth grade. I think it relates to the first year student population we discussed in class…
“71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning” relates to our chapter for this week regarding improving learning for the future and accountability for performance. It also touches on the hot topic of developing learning outcomes:
This last article is about the increase in the number of college applications allowing for institutions to be more selective of their freshman class and what this means for the applicants.
I thought the “Free College Tuition” article was great to read. It is much like Florida’s Bright Futures program that will help pay the way of students who do well in high school. The unfortunate circumstance is that only “About 200 of the 1,000 graduates last year would have qualified.” That is a good chunk of students, but there could definitely be more. I believe that once the program is announced to students some will try harder to make the 3.0 grade point average and 90% attendance rate. Some students are generally not trying hard enough in high school because they know college is not in the cards for them due to financial circumstances, but this will give them hope.
As someone who is not a great standardized test taker; I love the “Stealth Assessment” article. The article hits it right on the head saying that just knowing you are being scored on something brings the performance down. Sure this method will not replace standardized testing but it is an excellent accompaniment to grasp the inner workings of how one thinks. The complex puzzles given in this video game situation have many ways that allow evaluation of the student mind: their approach, though process, reactions, and ability to solve it.
“71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning” was an interesting article about the future goals and learning outcomes in higher education, but I thought the comments on the article were more interesting. The commenters overwhelmingly were negative about the pledge, calling it "smoke and mirrors" and expressed that this put more work on the faculty without achieving any true learning outcomes. They may just be personally biased, but it is interesting how strongly they oppose this idea. The pledge seems like it is a good idea to me, but I wonder how effective it will be. The idea seems to be well intentioned, but if there is no standard of measurement or achievement, how will schools be held accountable?
The article on stealth assignments reminds me of when we played Oregon Trail and Mavis Beacon as elementary students. These were early video/computer type games that (if I remember correctly) tried to teach us something about the topic. I don't know, however, if we actually learned anything by trying to forge the river; I remember the games as more of a competition or distraction than an educational experience. This may be one of the benefits of stealth assignments via video games, however, it may also be a challenge if students do not put forth their full effort for these assignments.
I thought the article, “71 President Pledge to Improve Their Colleges,” was very interesting article for two opposing reasons. The first reason is that I am glad that presidents at universities finally have made a public vow. This shows me that college presidents realize that their universities are not where they need to be and need to make significant changes in a timely and concise manner. On the other hand, I am a bit displeased that presidents are now trying to make an initiative like this after centuries within higher education. Why are presidents finally making an effort to improve their colleges when they should have been doing this from the start? It makes me wonder what was going on within higher education over the years. I just hope that these presidents truly live out their pledge and improve the well being of their institutions for the sake of the students.
Me having a graduate assistantship in an admissions office, I can totally relate to the article “Admission Inflation.” I understand why admission offices take so much time in marketing and promoting their university that allow numerous amounts of students to apply; thus increasing the number of applications. Our admission office puts a lot of time in the marketing and promotion of USF not only to increase our applicant pool, but also to attract the best students around the country. Because we attract the best students in the country, we as an admission office understand that those students are subject to receive multiple acceptances to many universities. With that knowledge in mind, our marketing and promotion efforts also go into attracting students to where they turn down their other acceptances and accept our and matriculate into our program. It is also a means for us to look at all students holistically and give them an equal opportunity to be accepted into our program. This strategic admissions route we take is not designed to deny thousands of students, but it’s a means to improve the culture and dynamics of our institution.
"New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition" was an interesting article. I think that any program or initiative that will allow students to attend college free of financial burden is worth everything. One of the state representatives mentioned in the article was talking about how he is still paying off college loan debt, and he has been out of school for 12 years. There has to be a time where programs like these continue to be developed around the country. However, having proper financial resources is key in these programs succeeding. We want to help the future as much as possible, but we don't want to put our nation in more debt as well.
As for the admissions article, it bothers me how institutions, especially the ivy-league schools, will receive a plethora of applications to only accept/admit at most 10% of that pool. It's like students are putting their hopes in false dreams. They work hard for years to apply to these schools, having the grades, activities and all. It puzzles me how admissions can even determine who to admit to the school if everyone has similar backgrounds. They do figure out a way, though. On the flipside, for these students that are well-groomed for college, there is an institution for everyone, and they can rest assured that they will go to a college or university that will give them many opportunities to grow and develop. In the end, students should create those “where to apply” lists with dream schools and reality/reach schools.
I think that the New Haven article was interesting based on the following concepts: It is one of the largest cities in Connecticut, and an integral part of the CT economy. The average home in New Haven, CT is $237,380. While the median household income was $48,834, and the median family income was $60,549. Yale University is a crucial part of New Haven’s economy, in addition to a large employer and tax payer. To offer free tuition to a vast majority of students, instead of a select not only lessens the strength of the “Ivy-League” standard, but could severely hurt the University and the school could face budget cuts, and face staffing difficulties in particular areas of study. The article also states, that you cannot just give students money and expect that it will solve all of their problems. If giving these students this money is going to take away from having extra services on campus, then this is something to consider, because many of these students are still going to show up with all of their other “life problems.” If cutting back on these resources in order to provide them this free tuition is something that is going to happen through budget cuts, then I think is something to seriously consider. In addition, what happened to being selective, and recruiting the best and brightest for the “Ivy-League” why are we bribing them to attend this institution?
We have all heard over and over that the CSA cohorts are getting bigger and bigger each year. There are a plethora of students that we obviously do not accept as well. This is because every year there are more and more applicants and it is just so difficult to turn away a student who is perfect for the program. Even though typically most applicants are qualified we cannot accept everyone. The process in our office of each student having to obtain an assistantship placement makes it a lot easier when we have further inquires of students wanting to be in the program. The Application Inflation article states that each year we are recruiting more and more students from abroad and out-of-state, every campus wants to diversify its student and special populations. As I said in my other posting for the Komives and Woodard text, it is simply not enough to let the applications come to you. Although the students are getting brighter each year, we have to produce marketing about our programs and university and what we offer and recruit the best and brightest students and convince them why they should attend USF over another institution.
I really enjoyed the article about the New Haven high schools starting the new programs to provide students with college tuition. This program really sends a message to students that education is valuable and attainable. It sounds as though many of the students living in these areas come from a low socioeconomic status and the article also mentioned the high drop out rates. Obviously this program will not be a panacea; however, if it affords a sizeable number of students the opportunity to not only succeed in high school but continue on to higher education, then it is already worth more than the $4.5 million it will cost the city each year.
The article about the rising number of applications was interesting as well. Shawn Stewart's (a senior in high school) comment stood out when he said, "They make it too stressful. Then we make it too stressful on ourselves" in regards to the application process. As mentioned in the article, many of these schools seem to be sending mixed messages. They send out advertising materials to students encouraging them to apply and then reject staggering numbers of applications. In addition, several professionals working in admissions mentioned in the article how the bigger numbers don't necessarily make the job easier or ensure the institution gets the best applicants. I'm curious to know how aware students are of their odds of being accepted into certain universities and if, as a result, they are applying to a greater number of schools to begin with. I worry that too many students may be putting all their eggs in one basket and then be sorely disappointed when they receive a thin envelope instead of a thick one.
I am happy to read about the New Haven Promise program. Connecticut maybe the richest state in the country, but it also has the second highest poverty rate in the country-something that many people are in denial about. As you can see from the stats Laura shared, the numbers are skewed. There's a couple of wealthy towns while the surrounding cities and some towns collectively struggle. I would argue that sometimes the "brightest" students are the laziest students so I would hope this "Promise" to New Haven would select students who are dedicated to education regardless of the struggles they experienece in and outside the classroom. This program has the ability to give students hope for a future in higher education and although it won't eliminate financial stress, it can alleviate it. This program is a great start to show families in CT, especially in New Haven that their concerns about opportunities in educaiton are being heard.
The "Stealth Assessment" article is cool! After reading the article, the first line "Colleges no longer simply want to know what their students know, but how they think" resonates the most with me. The idea of testing students without them knowing could benefit students and professors. Professors could begin to understand students better and it could boost the confidence of students. My attitude around standardized test isn't very good, it was just something I had to do to complete the applicaiton process. If there are alternative games for students to show how they think there could be some interesting findings. Will there be alternative assessments for non traditional students?
The first article I would like to comment on is the one about the New Haven area offering to pay tuition. I think this is a great idea, and will encourage more students to pursue a college career. One of the main reasons why highschool students feel like they can't attend college, is financial. They don't want to burden their parents, especially in these economic times. I really like the fact that tuition isn't just given to them either. Students have to maintain a 3.0 GPA and a certain attendance rate. This is a good incentive and a feasible goal. Some kids get discouraged with scholarships that require essays, high gpa's and certain test scores. This is an opportunity for those kids who may not have the means to attain these other requirements to have a chance. I also really enjoyed the article on "Stealth Assessment". I think that it's an awesome idea to use video games for assessments. Many students experience test anxiety, and may not do well at all on standardized test when they know they are capable of comprehending the material. I think tapping into something that adolescents are interested in like video games is a good way to go. I feel outcomes and results will be better when compared to standardized. T
The article about New Haven Seeks to get more students into college, will pay tuition has some good elements. The GPA and attendance requirements are very reasonable, and the minimum GPA for college courses is minimal. The approach from a municipal perspective is intended to attract city residents. This is particularly interesting in an area of the U.S. where property taxes and taxes in general, are among the highest in the nation. With large tax receipts, private foundation support, and partnerships with state public colleges this is a recipe for success. Hopefully the students who qualify will appreciate this great opportunity and return to the communities that gave them so much, and give back.
The application inflation article interested me the most. My mom is a high school teacher and tells me all about how times have changed so much since when I applied to colleges and universities. She said that colleges are heavily into recruiting and marketing just like the article states. Also, that many kids are overwhelmed with the process because of all the competition. Since colleges are receiving so many applications it is important to be involved in as much as possible now while also maintaining grades and scoring high on the SAT/ACT.
The article about President's pledging to improve their colleges is also good because I think it is important not to be complacent in higher education. What has worked in the past might not always work in the future. It is important to integrate new technology into colleges. It is also important to keep up with different learning techniques for the up and coming students. Since it is the norm for young people to go to college now it is crucial that higher education professionals educate students in the right way and keep up with the ever changing world.
I completely agree with Justin. I think the New Haven Promise will give high school students a greater incentive to succeed in high school if it means financial help for college. I think this is a wonderful idea and I would like to see how this evolves and if other states will do this as well.
I would also like to comment on the “Stealth Assessment”. I could not agree more with this article. I understand the concept of wanting to see how students think and I believe this is extremely important but I also do not think that all standardized tests are a good way of assessing students. Many students have test anxiety, don’t like being put under pressure, reach burn out before exam is over, or simply do not test well. But all of this does not mean that a student cannot be successful in college. I think that by using methods such as those in this article could really be a great way to test how students think without all of the pressure of standardized tests.
The article about New Haven's new tuition scholarship was very interesting to read. Like Labs and Monica shared, New Haven (and other areas in Connecticut) has a real divide in its socioeconomic population. I would be curious to see if the students who take advantage of this free in state tuition are students who would not have attended college before, or if it just helps lessen the financial burden. I also like that Mr. Weiss admits that there are additional support needed besides covering the tuition costs. Additionally, I find it interesting that the cities where Say Yes to Education have developed have some very prestigious schools close by.
"Application Inflation" was very enlightening. What I think is most important from these growing applicant pools is that the yeilds are not accurate or harder to predict. I know this was something Bridgewater struggled with and I'm sure most schools feel that struggle too. Bridgewater did not want to heighten its admissions standards because it needed to remain accessible to the same students in its region, but it saw an increase in the number of applications. When the yeild did not predict the correct number of students who would enroll, it was crunch time to find professors, classrooms, and other essentials to fit the incoming freshman class. This article does not make me worry about the top applicants, it makes me worry about those applicants who are all around good students but may not be accepted at some schools because the application pool is so large.
The admissions article was really interesting…but what I thought it kind of left out was what happens at state schools that can’t be so selective with admission. The University of Iowa saw its largest ever applicant pool last year and as a result its largest ever freshman class enrolled this fall. In the state of Iowa students who achieve a certain score on the regent’s admission index (a combination of the courses they’ve taken, GPA, ACT, and class rank) are guaranteed admission to the three state universities. On the front end that’s pretty simple, the University gets to say they have the most interest they’ve ever had. But with a set requirement for admission it results in a larger freshman class then the school can probably handle. The U of I didn’t have housing for all of the incoming freshman, it scrambled to find class space for them, and orientation sessions had to be expanded to make room for all of the incoming students. I know it looks better for the school, but I have to wonder if that’s better for the students. We recruited in a lot of new places to bring this freshman class to Iowa. Three of our counselors went to Texas, another to Colorado, and even one to India. It’s a more diverse class for sure, but should public schools be doing that kind of aggressive recruiting if it opens up the possibility for a freshman class they can’t realistically house and teach? I don’t think so…but in a time of state budget shortfalls I can see why the idea of a bigger class is so popular.
I never really have been much of a fan for tests. However, I've enjoyed video games for the past 20 years, and the idea of implementing them into test taking is a great idea. Like Justin, I'm not the best standardized test taker, yet I think this problem could be alleviated somewhat with the advent of stealth gaming.
The professor, I think, makes a key point when she states that students are going to play video games anyway, so we might as well as use them in a positive not. Often the source of scorn and general disregard by the Media and politicians, video games are an useful outlet. It is over a $20 billion a year industry, and reaches a plethora of individuals.
This concept is a great way to alleviate test anxiety, increase test scores, and--perhaps most importantly--make students more interested in school.
I think it is an interesting concept that Yale is using its money to finance kids going to college--even if the college isn't its own. This either illustrates Yale's kind nature or something else more insidious is afoot.
Labs makes a valid point in voicing her concern about the staying of Yale's elite status. However, the university isn't necessarily making it easier for students to go there, they are just reallocating some funds for other students that might not have the opportunity. One could even argue that it is just like Florida's Bright Futures program, but with additional funding from a private university.
Yale won't necessarily be facing a horrendous amount of budget cuts and the like. A prestigious university like Yale throws around $4.5 million like Brett Favre throws footballs: easily and without much concern about the possible consequences. The program would benefit about 200 of the 1000 graduating students, further cementing the fact that only a small percentage of students will receive the money.
All in all, I think this is a good idea, yet when I look at the demographics of the state I have to wonder why much need is needed; the state seems to be pretty affluent. Perhaps this is a prime example of a private institution offering charity--something that they do amazingly well when up to the task--to those deserving of it, and have the desire to receive it....
The stealth assessment article revealed a great way of using technology to advance teaching strategies. It reminded me of the article we discussed a few weeks ago regarding the Gates’ donation to education through technological programs. I feel that using stealth assessments would fit nicely into that category. I was also excited to see that one of the first games Ms. Shute created was about microeconomics. I am sure that business students I work with would appreciate this approach to what they are learning in class. I know the exams in many of these core business classes stress the students out, and using the creative methods the article discusses to test what they have learned could be more beneficial to their experience. The article on “Application Inflation” was also very interesting. I think Megan is right; the application experience has changed since most of us have applied to college. Marketing is easier now with the use of social media. I think it was interesting that the author pointed out “Admissions officers are chasing not so much a more perfect student as a more perfect class” (Hoover, 2010). With so many applicants, it is easy to be more selective and achieve a class that collectively has an impressive resume. With this, however, I think students need to be aware of the mixed messages the university might be sending and to broaden their choices when applying.
I think the New Haven article shows educational innitiatives tath are being tested to make a higher degree more affordable. It is a great opportunity for those students who are willing to take advantage of it. I do not think it will change the graduation rate, but it can and is changing the amount of students attending college in the area. It serves a financial resource for students who may not haev been able to attend college, but it also serves as a relief to those students who were already planning on attending. It is an incentive to do well, and a "direct path to college", for students. I think it is a grat innitiative that is hopefully going to be used in many other cities nationwide. It is "a wonderful statement of where our priorities are" and I hope there continues to be more and more interest in education.
I love the concept of understanding how students think versus what they know. If we can figure out the learning process for students, we can find more innovative, effective and better ways to educate students. I am also someone who does not do well under high pressure test situtations, however I can relate my thoughts and ideas to real world applications more than a test question. I think the video game concept of students "just doing" the process is a great new idea that can be explored. This could lead to a new way of testing and possibly moving away from standard tests. I think that high school grades are still a high importance to undersanding ones future success (like from doc miller's model we saw last week). A combination of previous grades and real world application tests could be a great tool in understanding what students have learned, and how they learn. I still think that there will always be some sort of standard test that is administered, because students still need to leran how to perform under pressure.
I think the New Haven Promise is a great initiative to begin in Conneticut. Tuition is climbing and will mostlikely continue to climb. This initiative will promote more high school students to continue to college. This also will make admission to colleges more competitive than currently. I think this initiative will also add some diversity to institutions.
The article about using video games as a means of assement or testing I think can be good and bad. Each person/student takes exams differently. Not every student has test anxiety. For those students who dont do well at video games what will be their test format? We are constantly trying to accomodate, and adjust to make testin and assesments better, but I think it gets overwelming. I guess as long as the option is there.....!
I think the scholarship from New Haven will be a great benefit to college students. One of the biggest hindrances that students have entering college is paying for tuition. I believe students performance will rise significantly if they don’t have to work to stay in college, and instead work on academics and involvement. I’m not sure if this will bring relief to New Haven residents though, the funding for the scholarship will come right out of their pockets anyway. However, I think it’s a step in a good direction for bringing higher education to more people. I think that it’s interesting that Presidents of Institutions of Higher Learning are “pledging” to improve their College’s Teaching and learning. Shouldn’t they be doing that anyway? It’s a nice article, but it makes me laugh a little bit that presidents are pledging to do something they really should be doing anyway.
I thought the New Haven article was very informative and I honestly got kind of excited about it. I think it's a great way to try and improve low high school graduation rates. It's a tangible reward ("If I get a 3.0, then I can go to college"). The quote summed it up for me: “I’m still paying off student loans from when I went to college 12 years ago,” Mr. Lemar, 34, said. “And to allow an entire generation of New Haven residents to attend college without that burden, my children included, is a wonderful statement of where our priorities are.” My sentiments exactly.
The article about booming admissions numbers really resonated with me. I am totally against the hype that characterizes the admissions procedures of many schools, especially the top tier ones. I agree with one of the sources in the article when he said the hype is not useful. It's stress-inducing and gives high school students a warped image of their abilities, or lack thereof. Quite frankly it's distracting to many students. I think it's important that students understand the concept that schools are looking for the perfect class vs. the perfect student. I think this is a more realistic framework from which to operate. On another note, I am PISSED that Univ. of Chicago got rid of their uncommon app! When I applied, and was accepted, it was definitely a draw for me (the questions really were crazy). Like the guy in the article said, these schools need to be careful about not misrepresenting themselves trying to be something they're not.
The free tuition article was astonishing to me. I believe programs like this should implemented throughout the nation, while that isn't exactly fiscally possible it is still a dream and a goal we should set as a nation. The fact that Yale is putting in so much money for these high school city students to attend colleges is phenomenon. This would be a very interesting group of students to follow and observe. I can imagine some would be truly honored with the gift and would work diligently to keep their aid and achieve in college where as I can see some students blowing it off because they aren't paying so why should they care about going to class and achieving. I hope that the program they have in place will come with some heavy advising and guidance along the way of coming to college and achieving in college. I know at UofL when I first began a new program was implemented by the University called Cardinal Covenant which was a financial aid program that allowed for Kentucky residents who were below the poverty line to attend school and have their tuition covered. The Cardinal Covenant is a program that is heavy on the counseling, guidance, and advising. Most of these students are First Generation college students and also working to support the family so the heavy involvement from the program helps to keep the students on track and focused on their school work.
I love the idea of paying college tuition for students. I am pretty jealous of the bright future scholars because Illinois does not have a program like this and I, like many others had to pay out of pocket for my undergraduate degree. I think this is a great alternative, I would rather have a program based off performance and not off race or family income. I think this promotes a positive idea about college without placing such a large financial burden on students who may not be able to afford college.
The article about the increasing admissions numbers really caught me by surprise. I remember the application process to be expensive and time consuming. The Common Application sound like it is the gateway to over application. Like any free service, it will tend to be over utilized. The breakdown of the numbers for Princeton’s admissions was also shocking. After all the set asides, the admissions process actually involved less than half the incoming class. If you factor in actual slots available for admission, the acceptance rate is even lower than reported. It is hard to believe that these elite schools will continue to find it productive to sort through the thousands of extra applications when places like Tulane then get such a low rate of acceptance from the students they actually want to admit. You have to wonder if these students that apply to so many schools are considering the proper fit for themselves. In recruiting, the schools sound like they are becoming generic in their pitch, which will lead to disappointed students who are expecting something different from the university. It is good to see an elite private school like Yale actively giving money in their local community. It sounds like a very obvious PR move to gather support from the city of New Haven, but it is still a nice gesture. It will be interesting to see if the college attendance rates will go up in the future since the article says it has not had an impact yet. Between Pell grants and this local initiative, it will make college a viable option for many, regardless of income bracket. I wonder how the state schools are reacting to the new resources flowing in to their systems from such an unexpected private donor. If the money comes from Yale’s for-profit division, it is a write off that is going to serve a lot of useful purposes in their community.
The numbers reported in "Application Inflation" were shocking! I cannot believe that some institutions received over 35,000 applications for just one freshman class. In my opinion, numbers like these are to show off. A 7% admissions rate may make a college or university seem more prestigious, but are those numbers really necessary to achieve the quality of student and class for which institutions are looking? I think University of Chicago's former approach of the "Uncommon Application" and unique marketing techniques make sense because the institution was recruiting students who would actually be a good fit. This new way of casting the net out wide is leading to a vicious cycle, as the article said, of students applying to tens of colleges just to try to get into one. Universities and students alike should make focus their searches on finding a good fit.
I was a little surprised to read some of the more negative reactions to the article "71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning." Learning outcomes should be mainly for the faculty and university to assess themselves, to make sure that the goals set forth for them are being achieved. I would hope these president are not trying to set up smoke and mirrors, but rather are trying to be more transparent, in showing the public that they are accomplishing what they set out to do.
I love the concept of the New Haven article - giving students who might not have otherwise had an opportunity the chance to attend a public institution in the area. The idea isn't new by any means, but it is important, nonetheless. I've seen very similar programs, such as the Kauffman scholars program in the Midwest. It allows inner-city high school students the opportunity to visit colleges over the course of 8 weeks in the summer and then they choose a school and its entirely paid for. I was fortunate to spend some time with these students during their visit to K-State and it was amazing to hear their stories. Some of them were foster children, some never thought about college until they got selected for the program, some seemed to have pretty great lives. In the end though, none of them would have made it to college without the program, so for that, our society should be thankful.
I enjoyed the "Stealth Assessment" article because it falls right in line with our reading and our conversations about the generational gaps. I don't mind taking paper exams, or computer-mediated exams for that matter, but I do not think they adequately test a student's knowledge in a particular area. I don't know if that is due to the questions the instructor asks, the format, or simply the fact that people are able to retain much more knowledge than they can actually spit out in a 50-minute time frame; maybe its a combination of all of those things. What I do think would be a more accurate test would be this concept of higher-order thinking skills. I'm intrigued by the concept and hope to see it in action sometime in my career.
The article about application inflation is downright dangerous. I mean, seriously, these universities are putting themselves at risk by boasting to be "the most popular university in the nation"... Applications and actual Admitted students are two VERY separate measures and neither have much to do with popularity. Working in admissions, I had relationships with high school students and I've learned the trends are growing towards students applying to 10+ colleges, just to have options. Well if I apply to 10 colleges, that means 9 colleges got my application but didn't get me, and only one received my application and got me to attend. The other thing to consider is this notion of "summer melt" - where students apply and commit to attending a university but then lose interest or change their mind in the summer prior to school starting. I'm not advocating for more strict admissions policies, in fact, I'm a fan of quite the opposite - opportunity for all students. But, I am saying that if I worked at one of these universities, I'd be cautious as to how much stock I put into these application numbers.
My goodness Video Games for Learning and stealth assessment! I love it, send me back to 6th grade and let me do it all over again. I have been saying this for years that we should harness the video game aspect and use it in every way possible besides enjoyment. That is just what we have been doing, from the leapfrog company that is using video game handheld devices to help young kids start learning basic math, spelling, and logic skills to the Wii Fit game that is using video games to help individuals get in shape. Technology and interactive games are the way of the future. Soon we will be using video games to learn every aspect of life, from driving to doctors performing mock surgeries, (they probably are already doing this for all I know). The millennial generation is lucky because we grew up submersed in video games and will be able to adapt to the ever changing use of interact technology. The Generation Xers will most likely be able to adapt and keep up. However, I can see the Baby Boomers as the angry old people in the movies who just complain about the dag nabbit fangled clicker and how they can't get it to change the channel when actually it's a video game controller they are holding.
The haven article is a step in the right direction for students who may not have the financial resources to attend college. As a former recipient of Bright Futures I can tell you that goes a long way and rewards positive grades and behaviors in high school. Attendance, grades and extra curriculur activity go hand in hand in the large scheme of things
The term "stealth assesment" is a bit intense for my taste but I like the idea. With so many issues with students testing and anxiety problems, I can see where this would be a practical solution. I also agree with the assesment of not just results but critical thinking, adjustment etc.
I think the video games being used for testing is also a wonderful idea. I agree with Clara in that not everyone intreprets test questions the same way and knowing how a student thinks and why they answered something is a great idea. I think our research teacher does this well. We get the option to answer why we thought an answer was something. I think after all the negative attention video games have been given for violance and a possible cause for last of physical activity it is nice to see this invention being used for good. Interesting article!
I really enjoyed the "A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills" article! I myself can get test anxiety, I know especially with the assessments, and this would be an interesting why to help students. I also worked a lot with students with disabilities while I was in high school and this would be a wonderful tool for those teachers to use. When they are helping students at different levels of learning disabilities. I know in my school in particular student with test anxiety or similar learning disabilities would leave the classroom and go to a special resource room. If teachers could implement this tool in the classroom the student would not have to be singled out. This is also a way for the teachers to reach out to the millennial generation who is a right now generation, they would be able to receive their scores right away. I also liked the way the teacher could see the progress and where the class is struggling, and adjust from there. I agree with Aaron the term is a bit intense! However, It will be very interesting to see where this program goes.
I also liked "New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition". I found it interesting that Yale university was a large benefactor. It was also interesting that Syracuse has a similar program started by a private sources. It is always good to see more and more states/cities that are helping students go to college and not have to worry about the cost.
When I read the "Application Inflation" article, my first thought was "Where do seniors in high school and their families have extra money to throw around to apply at multiple schools?" While I understand that students need to apply to multiple locations to ensure they are able to continue their education, I simply just could not understand applying to a school like Harvard, UCLA, or Brown knowing they receive 30K-plus applications each year and accept under 10% of those. I did enjoy both Greg and Laura's comments on this as they see the admissions on the intake here at USF. What Greg says is so true, that the marketing is needed to attract top candidates, but that the admissions office here also knows there are other schools out there doing the same thing to attract that same top candidate.
The other article I found enlightening was the "71 Presidents" who willingly are participating in this project. I think this transparency, or at least what they have promised, is such a huge step in the right direction. When you think of the last 5-10 years in corporate America, there has been so much scandal. Even though this is just opening up learning outcomes results to the public, I still feel this great move on the part of these presidents. Although the public generally won't understand the language of some of the reports, as was stated in the article, other individuals in academia will and could prove to be useful in recruiting and/or designing programs based on what is successful or not successful at other similar institutions. In actuality, more transparency of all institutions could benefit the entire higher educational system as we would be able to learn from each other's mistakes and gain from each other's successes.
The article “A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills” shows the diversity there is in teaching. It was great to see colleges reach out and try some new things for a change and actually gather data at the same time and use it to benefit themselves. I think colleges are on to something with this especially realizing that video games and virtual worlds can be used to give classroom instruction. I believe that makes it more engaging for students and quite possibly easier for them.
The “New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition” I personally believe is an encouraging article for high school students. I know that if I was in high school and I was reading this and seeing that countries across America are doing their best to help high school students get into college with low tuition I know I would definitely be interested. I also liked in the article how they addressed that paying of student loans can take years and be such a burden on people, but for colleges to realize that and try their best to cut costs and focus on academics really says a lot about their institution.
71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning
Everyone else seemed to comment on the New Haven article, but I want to make sure the other great article Angela posted isn't looked over! I think colleges and universities have lost focus of outcomes based learning, so it was refreshing to see a commitment to improvement on that front. I don't know if anybody else read the comments at the bottom of the article, but it seems like this is a pretty welcome change across the board (but of course, many people seem skeptical that this will be little more than lip service). I know USF has REALLY been emphasizing student success, so I wonder how extensive learning outcomes are used in measuring success. I'll agree with one commentator who said that it is refreshing to see universities recommitting to education, but that this is something that they should have been doing all along (I mean, what's the point of college if not to focus on learning?).
A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills
Like a couple of you have already mentioned, I too have never been a big fan of traditional tests because I never seem to be able to put on paper what I know. I found this article interesting and conflicting. One one hand, it is great to see the embrace of something that students already have experiences with and to embrace measuring learning in a different way. Test anxiety is very real and some students just fail miserably. That being said however, at what point does playing a video game become "educational." One could make the argument that playing Halo could help evaluate ones ability to recognize and take action on challenges or ones ability to manipulate virtual spacial environments. While measuring how a person things allows more freedom than what they know, I don't feel the line between what is "academic learning" and what isn't, is not clearly defined. Basically, a test like this is interesting, but certainly leaves something to be desired. I just wish Dr. Conways assessments were given in video game form.
71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning
I thought this article provided an interesting incite into ways to evolve higher education. We are constantly seeking out student success initiatives and doing focus groups but what pressure do we have to deliver externally? The internal pressures at USF, at least from what I have experienced, are great but few times have I sat in a meeting that talked about the pressure from the community to deliver this service. I also agree with what Brent said regarding the article. The transparency that will be available from the media attention is a huge step in the right direction.
A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills
This article is great! Thank you Lindsay. I believe that video games shape many of the college students development that enter college these days. The social and leadership impacts of the new video games that allow for collaboration with people around the country leaves endless opportunities to spread influence and positive values that we can support within our students. I know personally a game I played when I was very young, Civilization, helped to structure my thinking for the rest of my life. I was a geography major in college and I can attribute part of that to Civilization. There are still a number of aspects of the game that have assisted me academically as recent as this semester in CSA. I am glad that video games are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Instead of the negative connotation that is always given, someone is now starting to look at the positives. This is another huge step in the right direction!
I read the article, “71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning,” and took a lot away from the reading. What interested me the most was how each of these universities voluntarily opts to take part in this initiative as well as spell out their own terms for what they aim to accomplish. This is crucial because every school can seek to make changes on their own anyways, but by joining a public pledge and assigning a specific deadline, automatically holds these schools to a higher standard of accountability. There is now more worth to their promises and more incentive to accomplish these goals.
After reading the article, “Application Inflation,” I couldn’t help but be reminded of the article we read towards the beginning of the semester on American University’s marketing gimmick to use the word “Wonk” perspicaciously to attract more students and to create a sense of community from current students. Some schools are looking for as many ways as possible to draw in a larger applicant pool, while others, such as Chicago with their “Uncommon App” (before they too succumbed to the mainstream common app – and were later surprised by the near 50% increase of applications to come flooding in) seek to limit their appeal to only a specific type of student. Schools have to deal with the age of technology that facilitate the ease to apply as well as the already increasing attendance overall at institutions of higher education. I wonder what restrictions USF will instill in the next few years…
Hi everyone! Here are a couple articles for you all to marinate on…
ReplyDelete“New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition” describes a scholarship that will aid students who have attended public schools in the city since the ninth grade. I think it relates to the first year student population we discussed in class…
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/education/10yale.html?ref=education
“71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning” relates to our chapter for this week regarding improving learning for the future and accountability for performance. It also touches on the hot topic of developing learning outcomes:
http://chronicle.com/article/71-Presidents-Pledge-to/125285/
Here are two more articles to check out.
ReplyDeletehttp://chronicle.com/article/A-Stealth-Assessment-Turns/125276/
This article discusses using video games as a method to measure skills instead of a traditional paper-and-pencil exam.
http://chronicle.com/article/Application-Inflation/125277/?sid=wb&utm_source=wb&utm_medium=en
This last article is about the increase in the number of college applications allowing for institutions to be more selective of their freshman class and what this means for the applicants.
I thought the “Free College Tuition” article was great to read. It is much like Florida’s Bright Futures program that will help pay the way of students who do well in high school. The unfortunate circumstance is that only “About 200 of the 1,000 graduates last year would have qualified.” That is a good chunk of students, but there could definitely be more. I believe that once the program is announced to students some will try harder to make the 3.0 grade point average and 90% attendance rate. Some students are generally not trying hard enough in high school because they know college is not in the cards for them due to financial circumstances, but this will give them hope.
ReplyDeleteAs someone who is not a great standardized test taker; I love the “Stealth Assessment” article. The article hits it right on the head saying that just knowing you are being scored on something brings the performance down. Sure this method will not replace standardized testing but it is an excellent accompaniment to grasp the inner workings of how one thinks. The complex puzzles given in this video game situation have many ways that allow evaluation of the student mind: their approach, though process, reactions, and ability to solve it.
ReplyDelete“71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning” was an interesting article about the future goals and learning outcomes in higher education, but I thought the comments on the article were more interesting. The commenters overwhelmingly were negative about the pledge, calling it "smoke and mirrors" and expressed that this put more work on the faculty without achieving any true learning outcomes. They may just be personally biased, but it is interesting how strongly they oppose this idea. The pledge seems like it is a good idea to me, but I wonder how effective it will be. The idea seems to be well intentioned, but if there is no standard of measurement or achievement, how will schools be held accountable?
ReplyDeleteThe article on stealth assignments reminds me of when we played Oregon Trail and Mavis Beacon as elementary students. These were early video/computer type games that (if I remember correctly) tried to teach us something about the topic. I don't know, however, if we actually learned anything by trying to forge the river; I remember the games as more of a competition or distraction than an educational experience. This may be one of the benefits of stealth assignments via video games, however, it may also be a challenge if students do not put forth their full effort for these assignments.
I thought the article, “71 President Pledge to Improve Their Colleges,” was very interesting article for two opposing reasons. The first reason is that I am glad that presidents at universities finally have made a public vow. This shows me that college presidents realize that their universities are not where they need to be and need to make significant changes in a timely and concise manner. On the other hand, I am a bit displeased that presidents are now trying to make an initiative like this after centuries within higher education. Why are presidents finally making an effort to improve their colleges when they should have been doing this from the start? It makes me wonder what was going on within higher education over the years. I just hope that these presidents truly live out their pledge and improve the well being of their institutions for the sake of the students.
ReplyDeleteMe having a graduate assistantship in an admissions office, I can totally relate to the article “Admission Inflation.” I understand why admission offices take so much time in marketing and promoting their university that allow numerous amounts of students to apply; thus increasing the number of applications. Our admission office puts a lot of time in the marketing and promotion of USF not only to increase our applicant pool, but also to attract the best students around the country. Because we attract the best students in the country, we as an admission office understand that those students are subject to receive multiple acceptances to many universities. With that knowledge in mind, our marketing and promotion efforts also go into attracting students to where they turn down their other acceptances and accept our and matriculate into our program. It is also a means for us to look at all students holistically and give them an equal opportunity to be accepted into our program. This strategic admissions route we take is not designed to deny thousands of students, but it’s a means to improve the culture and dynamics of our institution.
"New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition" was an interesting article. I think that any program or initiative that will allow students to attend college free of financial burden is worth everything. One of the state representatives mentioned in the article was talking about how he is still paying off college loan debt, and he has been out of school for 12 years. There has to be a time where programs like these continue to be developed around the country. However, having proper financial resources is key in these programs succeeding. We want to help the future as much as possible, but we don't want to put our nation in more debt as well.
ReplyDeleteAs for the admissions article, it bothers me how institutions, especially the ivy-league schools, will receive a plethora of applications to only accept/admit at most 10% of that pool. It's like students are putting their hopes in false dreams. They work hard for years to apply to these schools, having the grades, activities and all. It puzzles me how admissions can even determine who to admit to the school if everyone has similar backgrounds. They do figure out a way, though. On the flipside, for these students that are well-groomed for college, there is an institution for everyone, and they can rest assured that they will go to a college or university that will give them many opportunities to grow and develop. In the end, students should create those “where to apply” lists with dream schools and reality/reach schools.
I think that the New Haven article was interesting based on the following concepts:
ReplyDeleteIt is one of the largest cities in Connecticut, and an integral part of the CT economy. The average home in New Haven, CT is $237,380. While the median household income was $48,834, and the median family income was $60,549.
Yale University is a crucial part of New Haven’s economy, in addition to a large employer and tax payer. To offer free tuition to a vast majority of students, instead of a select not only lessens the strength of the “Ivy-League” standard, but could severely hurt the University and the school could face budget cuts, and face staffing difficulties in particular areas of study.
The article also states, that you cannot just give students money and expect that it will solve all of their problems. If giving these students this money is going to take away from having extra services on campus, then this is something to consider, because many of these students are still going to show up with all of their other “life problems.” If cutting back on these resources in order to provide them this free tuition is something that is going to happen through budget cuts, then I think is something to seriously consider. In addition, what happened to being selective, and recruiting the best and brightest for the “Ivy-League” why are we bribing them to attend this institution?
We have all heard over and over that the CSA cohorts are getting bigger and bigger each year. There are a plethora of students that we obviously do not accept as well. This is because every year there are more and more applicants and it is just so difficult to turn away a student who is perfect for the program. Even though typically most applicants are qualified we cannot accept everyone. The process in our office of each student having to obtain an assistantship placement makes it a lot easier when we have further inquires of students wanting to be in the program. The Application Inflation article states that each year we are recruiting more and more students from abroad and out-of-state, every campus wants to diversify its student and special populations. As I said in my other posting for the Komives and Woodard text, it is simply not enough to let the applications come to you. Although the students are getting brighter each year, we have to produce marketing about our programs and university and what we offer and recruit the best and brightest students and convince them why they should attend USF over another institution.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the article about the New Haven high schools starting the new programs to provide students with college tuition. This program really sends a message to students that education is valuable and attainable. It sounds as though many of the students living in these areas come from a low socioeconomic status and the article also mentioned the high drop out rates. Obviously this program will not be a panacea; however, if it affords a sizeable number of students the opportunity to not only succeed in high school but continue on to higher education, then it is already worth more than the $4.5 million it will cost the city each year.
ReplyDeleteThe article about the rising number of applications was interesting as well. Shawn Stewart's (a senior in high school) comment stood out when he said, "They make it too stressful. Then we make it too stressful on ourselves" in regards to the application process. As mentioned in the article, many of these schools seem to be sending mixed messages. They send out advertising materials to students encouraging them to apply and then reject staggering numbers of applications. In addition, several professionals working in admissions mentioned in the article how the bigger numbers don't necessarily make the job easier or ensure the institution gets the best applicants. I'm curious to know how aware students are of their odds of being accepted into certain universities and if, as a result, they are applying to a greater number of schools to begin with. I worry that too many students may be putting all their eggs in one basket and then be sorely disappointed when they receive a thin envelope instead of a thick one.
I am happy to read about the New Haven Promise program. Connecticut maybe the richest state in the country, but it also has the second highest poverty rate in the country-something that many people are in denial about. As you can see from the stats Laura shared, the numbers are skewed. There's a couple of wealthy towns while the surrounding cities and some towns collectively struggle. I would argue that sometimes the "brightest" students are the laziest students so I would hope this "Promise" to New Haven would select students who are dedicated to education regardless of the struggles they experienece in and outside the classroom. This program has the ability to give students hope for a future in higher education and although it won't eliminate financial stress, it can alleviate it. This program is a great start to show families in CT, especially in New Haven that their concerns about opportunities in educaiton are being heard.
ReplyDeleteThe "Stealth Assessment" article is cool! After reading the article, the first line "Colleges no longer simply want to know what their students know, but how they think" resonates the most with me. The idea of testing students without them knowing could benefit students and professors. Professors could begin to understand students better and it could boost the confidence of students. My attitude around standardized test isn't very good, it was just something I had to do to complete the applicaiton process. If there are alternative games for students to show how they think there could be some interesting findings. Will there be alternative assessments for non traditional students?
The first article I would like to comment on is the one about the New Haven area offering to pay tuition. I think this is a great idea, and will encourage more students to pursue a college career. One of the main reasons why highschool students feel like they can't attend college, is financial. They don't want to burden their parents, especially in these economic times. I really like the fact that tuition isn't just given to them either. Students have to maintain a 3.0 GPA and a certain attendance rate. This is a good incentive and a feasible goal. Some kids get discouraged with scholarships that require essays, high gpa's and certain test scores. This is an opportunity for those kids who may not have the means to attain these other requirements to have a chance.
ReplyDeleteI also really enjoyed the article on "Stealth Assessment". I think that it's an awesome idea to use video games for assessments. Many students experience test anxiety, and may not do well at all on standardized test when they know they are capable of comprehending the material. I think tapping into something that adolescents are interested in like video games is a good way to go. I feel outcomes and results will be better when compared to standardized. T
The article about New Haven Seeks to get more students into college, will pay tuition has some good elements. The GPA and attendance requirements are very reasonable, and the minimum GPA for college courses is minimal. The approach from a municipal perspective is intended to attract city residents. This is particularly interesting in an area of the U.S. where property taxes and taxes in general, are among the highest in the nation. With large tax receipts, private foundation support, and partnerships with state public colleges this is a recipe for success. Hopefully the students who qualify will appreciate this great opportunity and return to the communities that gave them so much, and give back.
ReplyDeleteThe application inflation article interested me the most. My mom is a high school teacher and tells me all about how times have changed so much since when I applied to colleges and universities. She said that colleges are heavily into recruiting and marketing just like the article states. Also, that many kids are overwhelmed with the process because of all the competition. Since colleges are receiving so many applications it is important to be involved in as much as possible now while also maintaining grades and scoring high on the SAT/ACT.
ReplyDeleteThe article about President's pledging to improve their colleges is also good because I think it is important not to be complacent in higher education. What has worked in the past might not always work in the future. It is important to integrate new technology into colleges. It is also important to keep up with different learning techniques for the up and coming students. Since it is the norm for young people to go to college now it is crucial that higher education professionals educate students in the right way and keep up with the ever changing world.
I completely agree with Justin. I think the New Haven Promise will give high school students a greater incentive to succeed in high school if it means financial help for college. I think this is a wonderful idea and I would like to see how this evolves and if other states will do this as well.
ReplyDeleteI would also like to comment on the “Stealth Assessment”. I could not agree more with this article. I understand the concept of wanting to see how students think and I believe this is extremely important but I also do not think that all standardized tests are a good way of assessing students. Many students have test anxiety, don’t like being put under pressure, reach burn out before exam is over, or simply do not test well. But all of this does not mean that a student cannot be successful in college. I think that by using methods such as those in this article could really be a great way to test how students think without all of the pressure of standardized tests.
The article about New Haven's new tuition scholarship was very interesting to read. Like Labs and Monica shared, New Haven (and other areas in Connecticut) has a real divide in its socioeconomic population. I would be curious to see if the students who take advantage of this free in state tuition are students who would not have attended college before, or if it just helps lessen the financial burden. I also like that Mr. Weiss admits that there are additional support needed besides covering the tuition costs. Additionally, I find it interesting that the cities where Say Yes to Education have developed have some very prestigious schools close by.
ReplyDelete"Application Inflation" was very enlightening. What I think is most important from these growing applicant pools is that the yeilds are not accurate or harder to predict. I know this was something Bridgewater struggled with and I'm sure most schools feel that struggle too. Bridgewater did not want to heighten its admissions standards because it needed to remain accessible to the same students in its region, but it saw an increase in the number of applications. When the yeild did not predict the correct number of students who would enroll, it was crunch time to find professors, classrooms, and other essentials to fit the incoming freshman class. This article does not make me worry about the top applicants, it makes me worry about those applicants who are all around good students but may not be accepted at some schools because the application pool is so large.
The admissions article was really interesting…but what I thought it kind of left out was what happens at state schools that can’t be so selective with admission. The University of Iowa saw its largest ever applicant pool last year and as a result its largest ever freshman class enrolled this fall. In the state of Iowa students who achieve a certain score on the regent’s admission index (a combination of the courses they’ve taken, GPA, ACT, and class rank) are guaranteed admission to the three state universities. On the front end that’s pretty simple, the University gets to say they have the most interest they’ve ever had. But with a set requirement for admission it results in a larger freshman class then the school can probably handle. The U of I didn’t have housing for all of the incoming freshman, it scrambled to find class space for them, and orientation sessions had to be expanded to make room for all of the incoming students. I know it looks better for the school, but I have to wonder if that’s better for the students. We recruited in a lot of new places to bring this freshman class to Iowa. Three of our counselors went to Texas, another to Colorado, and even one to India. It’s a more diverse class for sure, but should public schools be doing that kind of aggressive recruiting if it opens up the possibility for a freshman class they can’t realistically house and teach? I don’t think so…but in a time of state budget shortfalls I can see why the idea of a bigger class is so popular.
ReplyDeleteI never really have been much of a fan for tests. However, I've enjoyed video games for the past 20 years, and the idea of implementing them into test taking is a great idea. Like Justin, I'm not the best standardized test taker, yet I think this problem could be alleviated somewhat with the advent of stealth gaming.
ReplyDeleteThe professor, I think, makes a key point when she states that students are going to play video games anyway, so we might as well as use them in a positive not. Often the source of scorn and general disregard by the Media and politicians, video games are an useful outlet. It is over a $20 billion a year industry, and reaches a plethora of individuals.
This concept is a great way to alleviate test anxiety, increase test scores, and--perhaps most importantly--make students more interested in school.
I think it is an interesting concept that Yale is using its money to finance kids going to college--even if the college isn't its own. This either illustrates Yale's kind nature or something else more insidious is afoot.
ReplyDeleteLabs makes a valid point in voicing her concern about the staying of Yale's elite status. However, the university isn't necessarily making it easier for students to go there, they are just reallocating some funds for other students that might not have the opportunity. One could even argue that it is just like Florida's Bright Futures program, but with additional funding from a private university.
Yale won't necessarily be facing a horrendous amount of budget cuts and the like. A prestigious university like Yale throws around $4.5 million like Brett Favre throws footballs: easily and without much concern about the possible consequences. The program would benefit about 200 of the 1000 graduating students, further cementing the fact that only a small percentage of students will receive the money.
All in all, I think this is a good idea, yet when I look at the demographics of the state I have to wonder why much need is needed; the state seems to be pretty affluent. Perhaps this is a prime example of a private institution offering charity--something that they do amazingly well when up to the task--to those deserving of it, and have the desire to receive it....
The stealth assessment article revealed a great way of using technology to advance teaching strategies. It reminded me of the article we discussed a few weeks ago regarding the Gates’ donation to education through technological programs. I feel that using stealth assessments would fit nicely into that category. I was also excited to see that one of the first games Ms. Shute created was about microeconomics. I am sure that business students I work with would appreciate this approach to what they are learning in class. I know the exams in many of these core business classes stress the students out, and using the creative methods the article discusses to test what they have learned could be more beneficial to their experience.
ReplyDeleteThe article on “Application Inflation” was also very interesting. I think Megan is right; the application experience has changed since most of us have applied to college. Marketing is easier now with the use of social media. I think it was interesting that the author pointed out “Admissions officers are chasing not so much a more perfect student as a more perfect class” (Hoover, 2010). With so many applicants, it is easy to be more selective and achieve a class that collectively has an impressive resume. With this, however, I think students need to be aware of the mixed messages the university might be sending and to broaden their choices when applying.
I think the New Haven article shows educational innitiatives tath are being tested to make a higher degree more affordable. It is a great opportunity for those students who are willing to take advantage of it. I do not think it will change the graduation rate, but it can and is changing the amount of students attending college in the area. It serves a financial resource for students who may not haev been able to attend college, but it also serves as a relief to those students who were already planning on attending. It is an incentive to do well, and a "direct path to college", for students. I think it is a grat innitiative that is hopefully going to be used in many other cities nationwide. It is "a wonderful statement of where our priorities are" and I hope there continues to be more and more interest in education.
ReplyDeleteI love the concept of understanding how students think versus what they know. If we can figure out the learning process for students, we can find more innovative, effective and better ways to educate students. I am also someone who does not do well under high pressure test situtations, however I can relate my thoughts and ideas to real world applications more than a test question. I think the video game concept of students "just doing" the process is a great new idea that can be explored. This could lead to a new way of testing and possibly moving away from standard tests. I think that high school grades are still a high importance to undersanding ones future success (like from doc miller's model we saw last week). A combination of previous grades and real world application tests could be a great tool in understanding what students have learned, and how they learn. I still think that there will always be some sort of standard test that is administered, because students still need to leran how to perform under pressure.
I think the New Haven Promise is a great initiative to begin in Conneticut. Tuition is climbing and will mostlikely continue to climb. This initiative will promote more high school students to continue to college. This also will make admission to colleges more competitive than currently. I think this initiative will also add some diversity to institutions.
ReplyDeleteThe article about using video games as a means of assement or testing I think can be good and bad. Each person/student takes exams differently. Not every student has test anxiety. For those students who dont do well at video games what will be their test format? We are constantly trying to accomodate, and adjust to make testin and assesments better, but I think it gets overwelming. I guess as long as the option is there.....!
I think the scholarship from New Haven will be a great benefit to college students. One of the biggest hindrances that students have entering college is paying for tuition. I believe students performance will rise significantly if they don’t have to work to stay in college, and instead work on academics and involvement. I’m not sure if this will bring relief to New Haven residents though, the funding for the scholarship will come right out of their pockets anyway. However, I think it’s a step in a good direction for bringing higher education to more people.
ReplyDeleteI think that it’s interesting that Presidents of Institutions of Higher Learning are “pledging” to improve their College’s Teaching and learning. Shouldn’t they be doing that anyway? It’s a nice article, but it makes me laugh a little bit that presidents are pledging to do something they really should be doing anyway.
I thought the New Haven article was very informative and I honestly got kind of excited about it. I think it's a great way to try and improve low high school graduation rates. It's a tangible reward ("If I get a 3.0, then I can go to college"). The quote summed it up for me: “I’m still paying off student loans from when I went to college 12 years ago,” Mr. Lemar, 34, said. “And to allow an entire generation of New Haven residents to attend college without that burden, my children included, is a wonderful statement of where our priorities are.” My sentiments exactly.
ReplyDeleteThe article about booming admissions numbers really resonated with me. I am totally against the hype that characterizes the admissions procedures of many schools, especially the top tier ones. I agree with one of the sources in the article when he said the hype is not useful. It's stress-inducing and gives high school students a warped image of their abilities, or lack thereof. Quite frankly it's distracting to many students. I think it's important that students understand the concept that schools are looking for the perfect class vs. the perfect student. I think this is a more realistic framework from which to operate. On another note, I am PISSED that Univ. of Chicago got rid of their uncommon app! When I applied, and was accepted, it was definitely a draw for me (the questions really were crazy). Like the guy in the article said, these schools need to be careful about not misrepresenting themselves trying to be something they're not.
The free tuition article was astonishing to me. I believe programs like this should implemented throughout the nation, while that isn't exactly fiscally possible it is still a dream and a goal we should set as a nation. The fact that Yale is putting in so much money for these high school city students to attend colleges is phenomenon. This would be a very interesting group of students to follow and observe. I can imagine some would be truly honored with the gift and would work diligently to keep their aid and achieve in college where as I can see some students blowing it off because they aren't paying so why should they care about going to class and achieving. I hope that the program they have in place will come with some heavy advising and guidance along the way of coming to college and achieving in college. I know at UofL when I first began a new program was implemented by the University called Cardinal Covenant which was a financial aid program that allowed for Kentucky residents who were below the poverty line to attend school and have their tuition covered. The Cardinal Covenant is a program that is heavy on the counseling, guidance, and advising. Most of these students are First Generation college students and also working to support the family so the heavy involvement from the program helps to keep the students on track and focused on their school work.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of paying college tuition for students. I am pretty jealous of the bright future scholars because Illinois does not have a program like this and I, like many others had to pay out of pocket for my undergraduate degree. I think this is a great alternative, I would rather have a program based off performance and not off race or family income. I think this promotes a positive idea about college without placing such a large financial burden on students who may not be able to afford college.
ReplyDeleteThe article about the increasing admissions numbers really caught me by surprise. I remember the application process to be expensive and time consuming. The Common Application sound like it is the gateway to over application. Like any free service, it will tend to be over utilized. The breakdown of the numbers for Princeton’s admissions was also shocking. After all the set asides, the admissions process actually involved less than half the incoming class. If you factor in actual slots available for admission, the acceptance rate is even lower than reported. It is hard to believe that these elite schools will continue to find it productive to sort through the thousands of extra applications when places like Tulane then get such a low rate of acceptance from the students they actually want to admit.
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder if these students that apply to so many schools are considering the proper fit for themselves. In recruiting, the schools sound like they are becoming generic in their pitch, which will lead to disappointed students who are expecting something different from the university.
It is good to see an elite private school like Yale actively giving money in their local community. It sounds like a very obvious PR move to gather support from the city of New Haven, but it is still a nice gesture. It will be interesting to see if the college attendance rates will go up in the future since the article says it has not had an impact yet. Between Pell grants and this local initiative, it will make college a viable option for many, regardless of income bracket. I wonder how the state schools are reacting to the new resources flowing in to their systems from such an unexpected private donor. If the money comes from Yale’s for-profit division, it is a write off that is going to serve a lot of useful purposes in their community.
The numbers reported in "Application Inflation" were shocking! I cannot believe that some institutions received over 35,000 applications for just one freshman class. In my opinion, numbers like these are to show off. A 7% admissions rate may make a college or university seem more prestigious, but are those numbers really necessary to achieve the quality of student and class for which institutions are looking? I think University of Chicago's former approach of the "Uncommon Application" and unique marketing techniques make sense because the institution was recruiting students who would actually be a good fit. This new way of casting the net out wide is leading to a vicious cycle, as the article said, of students applying to tens of colleges just to try to get into one. Universities and students alike should make focus their searches on finding a good fit.
ReplyDeleteI was a little surprised to read some of the more negative reactions to the article "71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning." Learning outcomes should be mainly for the faculty and university to assess themselves, to make sure that the goals set forth for them are being achieved. I would hope these president are not trying to set up smoke and mirrors, but rather are trying to be more transparent, in showing the public that they are accomplishing what they set out to do.
I love the concept of the New Haven article - giving students who might not have otherwise had an opportunity the chance to attend a public institution in the area. The idea isn't new by any means, but it is important, nonetheless. I've seen very similar programs, such as the Kauffman scholars program in the Midwest. It allows inner-city high school students the opportunity to visit colleges over the course of 8 weeks in the summer and then they choose a school and its entirely paid for. I was fortunate to spend some time with these students during their visit to K-State and it was amazing to hear their stories. Some of them were foster children, some never thought about college until they got selected for the program, some seemed to have pretty great lives. In the end though, none of them would have made it to college without the program, so for that, our society should be thankful.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the "Stealth Assessment" article because it falls right in line with our reading and our conversations about the generational gaps. I don't mind taking paper exams, or computer-mediated exams for that matter, but I do not think they adequately test a student's knowledge in a particular area. I don't know if that is due to the questions the instructor asks, the format, or simply the fact that people are able to retain much more knowledge than they can actually spit out in a 50-minute time frame; maybe its a combination of all of those things. What I do think would be a more accurate test would be this concept of higher-order thinking skills. I'm intrigued by the concept and hope to see it in action sometime in my career.
The article about application inflation is downright dangerous. I mean, seriously, these universities are putting themselves at risk by boasting to be "the most popular university in the nation"... Applications and actual Admitted students are two VERY separate measures and neither have much to do with popularity. Working in admissions, I had relationships with high school students and I've learned the trends are growing towards students applying to 10+ colleges, just to have options. Well if I apply to 10 colleges, that means 9 colleges got my application but didn't get me, and only one received my application and got me to attend. The other thing to consider is this notion of "summer melt" - where students apply and commit to attending a university but then lose interest or change their mind in the summer prior to school starting. I'm not advocating for more strict admissions policies, in fact, I'm a fan of quite the opposite - opportunity for all students. But, I am saying that if I worked at one of these universities, I'd be cautious as to how much stock I put into these application numbers.
My goodness Video Games for Learning and stealth assessment! I love it, send me back to 6th grade and let me do it all over again. I have been saying this for years that we should harness the video game aspect and use it in every way possible besides enjoyment. That is just what we have been doing, from the leapfrog company that is using video game handheld devices to help young kids start learning basic math, spelling, and logic skills to the Wii Fit game that is using video games to help individuals get in shape. Technology and interactive games are the way of the future. Soon we will be using video games to learn every aspect of life, from driving to doctors performing mock surgeries, (they probably are already doing this for all I know). The millennial generation is lucky because we grew up submersed in video games and will be able to adapt to the ever changing use of interact technology. The Generation Xers will most likely be able to adapt and keep up. However, I can see the Baby Boomers as the angry old people in the movies who just complain about the dag nabbit fangled clicker and how they can't get it to change the channel when actually it's a video game controller they are holding.
ReplyDeleteThe haven article is a step in the right direction for students who may not have the financial resources to attend college. As a former recipient of Bright Futures I can tell you that goes a long way and rewards positive grades and behaviors in high school. Attendance, grades and extra curriculur activity go hand in hand in the large scheme of things
ReplyDeleteThe term "stealth assesment" is a bit intense for my taste but I like the idea. With so many issues with students testing and anxiety problems, I can see where this would be a practical solution. I also agree with the assesment of not just results but critical thinking, adjustment etc.
I think the video games being used for testing is also a wonderful idea. I agree with Clara in that not everyone intreprets test questions the same way and knowing how a student thinks and why they answered something is a great idea. I think our research teacher does this well. We get the option to answer why we thought an answer was something. I think after all the negative attention video games have been given for violance and a possible cause for last of physical activity it is nice to see this invention being used for good. Interesting article!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the "A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills" article! I myself can get test anxiety, I know especially with the assessments, and this would be an interesting why to help students. I also worked a lot with students with disabilities while I was in high school and this would be a wonderful tool for those teachers to use. When they are helping students at different levels of learning disabilities. I know in my school in particular student with test anxiety or similar learning disabilities would leave the classroom and go to a special resource room. If teachers could implement this tool in the classroom the student would not have to be singled out. This is also a way for the teachers to reach out to the millennial generation who is a right now generation, they would be able to receive their scores right away. I also liked the way the teacher could see the progress and where the class is struggling, and adjust from there. I agree with Aaron the term is a bit intense! However, It will be very interesting to see where this program goes.
ReplyDeleteI also liked "New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition". I found it interesting that Yale university was a large benefactor. It was also interesting that Syracuse has a similar program started by a private sources. It is always good to see more and more states/cities that are helping students go to college and not have to worry about the cost.
ReplyDeleteWhen I read the "Application Inflation" article, my first thought was "Where do seniors in high school and their families have extra money to throw around to apply at multiple schools?" While I understand that students need to apply to multiple locations to ensure they are able to continue their education, I simply just could not understand applying to a school like Harvard, UCLA, or Brown knowing they receive 30K-plus applications each year and accept under 10% of those. I did enjoy both Greg and Laura's comments on this as they see the admissions on the intake here at USF. What Greg says is so true, that the marketing is needed to attract top candidates, but that the admissions office here also knows there are other schools out there doing the same thing to attract that same top candidate.
ReplyDeleteThe other article I found enlightening was the "71 Presidents" who willingly are participating in this project. I think this transparency, or at least what they have promised, is such a huge step in the right direction. When you think of the last 5-10 years in corporate America, there has been so much scandal. Even though this is just opening up learning outcomes results to the public, I still feel this great move on the part of these presidents. Although the public generally won't understand the language of some of the reports, as was stated in the article, other individuals in academia will and could prove to be useful in recruiting and/or designing programs based on what is successful or not successful at other similar institutions. In actuality, more transparency of all institutions could benefit the entire higher educational system as we would be able to learn from each other's mistakes and gain from each other's successes.
The article “A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills” shows the diversity there is in teaching. It was great to see colleges reach out and try some new things for a change and actually gather data at the same time and use it to benefit themselves. I think colleges are on to something with this especially realizing that video games and virtual worlds can be used to give classroom instruction. I believe that makes it more engaging for students and quite possibly easier for them.
ReplyDeleteThe “New Haven, Seeking to Get More Students Into College, Will Pay Tuition” I personally believe is an encouraging article for high school students. I know that if I was in high school and I was reading this and seeing that countries across America are doing their best to help high school students get into college with low tuition I know I would definitely be interested. I also liked in the article how they addressed that paying of student loans can take years and be such a burden on people, but for colleges to realize that and try their best to cut costs and focus on academics really says a lot about their institution.
71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning
ReplyDeleteEveryone else seemed to comment on the New Haven article, but I want to make sure the other great article Angela posted isn't looked over! I think colleges and universities have lost focus of outcomes based learning, so it was refreshing to see a commitment to improvement on that front. I don't know if anybody else read the comments at the bottom of the article, but it seems like this is a pretty welcome change across the board (but of course, many people seem skeptical that this will be little more than lip service). I know USF has REALLY been emphasizing student success, so I wonder how extensive learning outcomes are used in measuring success. I'll agree with one commentator who said that it is refreshing to see universities recommitting to education, but that this is something that they should have been doing all along (I mean, what's the point of college if not to focus on learning?).
A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills
ReplyDeleteLike a couple of you have already mentioned, I too have never been a big fan of traditional tests because I never seem to be able to put on paper what I know. I found this article interesting and conflicting. One one hand, it is great to see the embrace of something that students already have experiences with and to embrace measuring learning in a different way. Test anxiety is very real and some students just fail miserably. That being said however, at what point does playing a video game become "educational." One could make the argument that playing Halo could help evaluate ones ability to recognize and take action on challenges or ones ability to manipulate virtual spacial environments. While measuring how a person things allows more freedom than what they know, I don't feel the line between what is "academic learning" and what isn't, is not clearly defined. Basically, a test like this is interesting, but certainly leaves something to be desired. I just wish Dr. Conways assessments were given in video game form.
71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning
ReplyDeleteI thought this article provided an interesting incite into ways to evolve higher education. We are constantly seeking out student success initiatives and doing focus groups but what pressure do we have to deliver externally? The internal pressures at USF, at least from what I have experienced, are great but few times have I sat in a meeting that talked about the pressure from the community to deliver this service. I also agree with what Brent said regarding the article. The transparency that will be available from the media attention is a huge step in the right direction.
A 'Stealth Assessment' Turns to Video Games to Measure Thinking Skills
This article is great! Thank you Lindsay. I believe that video games shape many of the college students development that enter college these days. The social and leadership impacts of the new video games that allow for collaboration with people around the country leaves endless opportunities to spread influence and positive values that we can support within our students. I know personally a game I played when I was very young, Civilization, helped to structure my thinking for the rest of my life. I was a geography major in college and I can attribute part of that to Civilization. There are still a number of aspects of the game that have assisted me academically as recent as this semester in CSA. I am glad that video games are finally receiving the attention they deserve. Instead of the negative connotation that is always given, someone is now starting to look at the positives. This is another huge step in the right direction!
I read the article, “71 Presidents Pledge to Improve Their Colleges' Teaching and Learning,” and took a lot away from the reading. What interested me the most was how each of these universities voluntarily opts to take part in this initiative as well as spell out their own terms for what they aim to accomplish. This is crucial because every school can seek to make changes on their own anyways, but by joining a public pledge and assigning a specific deadline, automatically holds these schools to a higher standard of accountability. There is now more worth to their promises and more incentive to accomplish these goals.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, “Application Inflation,” I couldn’t help but be reminded of the article we read towards the beginning of the semester on American University’s marketing gimmick to use the word “Wonk” perspicaciously to attract more students and to create a sense of community from current students. Some schools are looking for as many ways as possible to draw in a larger applicant pool, while others, such as Chicago with their “Uncommon App” (before they too succumbed to the mainstream common app – and were later surprised by the near 50% increase of applications to come flooding in) seek to limit their appeal to only a specific type of student. Schools have to deal with the age of technology that facilitate the ease to apply as well as the already increasing attendance overall at institutions of higher education. I wonder what restrictions USF will instill in the next few years…