Comments on: “The University’s Crisis of Purpose” http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/ Intersection of Nature and Culture Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:22:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: Stavins: “What’s the Proper Role of Individuals and Institutions in Addressing Climate Change?” « Global Change http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-656 Stavins: “What’s the Proper Role of Individuals and Institutions in Addressing Climate Change?” « Global Change Sat, 13 Mar 2010 20:30:29 +0000 http://www.globalchangeblog.com/?p=208#comment-656 [...] that is needed to conceive of and deal with global change problems.  As we have seen in previous posts, it’s time for higher education to consider adding problem-centered approaches to the general [...] [...] that is needed to conceive of and deal with global change problems.  As we have seen in previous posts, it’s time for higher education to consider adding problem-centered approaches to the general [...]

]]> By: In this week’s issue of Nature: The urgent need for more interdisciplinary, solutions-driven university research « Global Change http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-97 In this week’s issue of Nature: The urgent need for more interdisciplinary, solutions-driven university research « Global Change Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:17:22 +0000 http://www.globalchangeblog.com/?p=208#comment-97 [...] Although she doesn’t mention teaching, I’d argue that this kind of interdisciplinary transformation, focusing on major contemporary problems and the balancing of pure and applied inquiry, also needs to happen on the curricular side of campus. [...] [...] Although she doesn’t mention teaching, I’d argue that this kind of interdisciplinary transformation, focusing on major contemporary problems and the balancing of pure and applied inquiry, also needs to happen on the curricular side of campus. [...]

]]> By: Why don’t people seem to get climate change? Problem 1: Environmental Literacy « Global Change http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Why don’t people seem to get climate change? Problem 1: Environmental Literacy « Global Change Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:57:08 +0000 http://www.globalchangeblog.com/?p=208#comment-25 [...] “The University’s Crisis of Purpose” [...] [...] “The University’s Crisis of Purpose” [...]

]]> By: This week’s good ideas in campus sustainability « Global Change http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-13 This week’s good ideas in campus sustainability « Global Change Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:46:18 +0000 http://www.globalchangeblog.com/?p=208#comment-13 [...] I mentioned in an earlier post, it’s time for higher education to start thinking about what it means to train people to be [...] [...] I mentioned in an earlier post, it’s time for higher education to start thinking about what it means to train people to be [...]

]]> By: Kim Smith http://www.globalchangeblog.com/2009/10/%e2%80%9cthe-university%e2%80%99s-crisis-of-purpose%e2%80%9d/comment-page-1/#comment-5 Kim Smith Fri, 23 Oct 2009 13:19:34 +0000 http://www.globalchangeblog.com/?p=208#comment-5 I'm all for reexamining how and what we teach, but I wonder if critiques like this distract us from more pressing issues, like keeping higher ed affordable and accessible. The innovative teaching we want to encourage in the universities is generally very expensive and time-consuming. Maybe we're making the access issue worse. I also wonder if the way we teach environmental studies and sciences doesn't sometimes exacerbate the narrow, disciplinary mentality, by focusing attention on "problem-solving." Problem-solving is a great way to get students applying what they've learned--and we know that helps with the learning process. But it also usually an important step: critically examining the construction of the problem itself. This critical perspective is a central aim of a liberal education. I’m all for reexamining how and what we teach, but I wonder if critiques like this distract us from more pressing issues, like keeping higher ed affordable and accessible. The innovative teaching we want to encourage in the universities is generally very expensive and time-consuming. Maybe we’re making the access issue worse.

I also wonder if the way we teach environmental studies and sciences doesn’t sometimes exacerbate the narrow, disciplinary mentality, by focusing attention on “problem-solving.” Problem-solving is a great way to get students applying what they’ve learned–and we know that helps with the learning process. But it also usually an important step: critically examining the construction of the problem itself. This critical perspective is a central aim of a liberal education.

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