As we continue to think about and plan for our future here at SCC I wanted to share the article below from this week's Chronicle of Higher Education.
http://chronicle.com/article/Tools-for-Living/130615/
The article describes the growing importance of hands-on learning in higher education, taking examples chiefly from four-year environments (e.g., the so called 'work colleges,' such as Warren Wilson, College of the Ozarks, and several colleges and universities in Vermont with which I am very familiar).
This op ed piece appropriately points out that there is nothing new under the sun with regard to the importance of applied learning, dating as it does to the seminal work of John Dewey (another Vermonter) more than half a century ago.
As we move forward in our own long term planning I would ask us to keep in mind the value of applied, hands-on learning - something arguably done best in the community college setting and of which we have many examples of here. There is no hidden message here of a massive revamp of what and how we teach at SCC; rather, food for thought about how to further strengthen an existing strength of the college.
2 Tips to Survive Finals
1 week ago
I have not had time to read the article, yet, although the idea of strengthening hands on learning for college age students is encouraging from my perspective. I am the Head of School at a small, supportive day and boarding high school in Vermont, where many of our students excel when the learning is hands on. At Rock Point School we look to balance traditional academic studies with accommodated, hand on work. We serve students who look for meaning in what they do and are very engaged when their academics are applicable in their day-to-day lives.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing about this conversation at your college.
C.J. Spirito
Head of School
Rock Point School
Burlington, VT