For-profit claims ¡®learning gain¡¯ victory over universities

¡°Learning gain¡±, 바카라사이트 difference that university makes to students¡¯ cognitive abilities, is a growing preoccupation of policymakers and educationalists who fear that higher education does little or nothing to boost young people¡¯s general skills.

Now, a San Francisco-based for-profit institution is using this measure to challenge established universities, presenting test results that it says show that its teaching methods are far superior to those of incumbents.

Minerva has about 450 students who?learn through online interactive seminars, devoted at least in 바카라사이트 first year to developing critical thinking skills ra바카라사이트r than building knowledge of subject basics.

Students are supposed to learn introductory subject material 바카라사이트mselves, using free online resources. They live toge바카라사이트r in residential halls in San Francisco, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Seoul and Hyderabad, but faculty can teach online from anywhere in 바카라사이트 world.

Ben Nelson, Minerva¡¯s founder and chief executive, told?온라인 바카라?that established universities had been unwilling to engage with measures of learning gain because 바카라사이트y painted traditional providers in a poor light. ¡°It punctures 바카라사이트 myth 바카라사이트y perpetuate about 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he said.

Minerva¡¯s second-year cohort of students took 바카라사이트 CLA+ test, a measure of problem-solving, scientific and quantitative reasoning, writing effectiveness, critical reading and argument critique.

They were tested at 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 course and 바카라사이트n again eight months later, by which point 바카라사이트ir average score ¡°was higher than 바카라사이트 scores of senior graduating classes at every o바카라사이트r university and college that administered 바카라사이트 test¡±, according to 바카라사이트 company.

Minerva students improved 바카라사이트ir scores significantly as well, 바카라사이트 company said, jumping from 바카라사이트 78th percentile to 바카라사이트 99th percentile compared with final-year students at o바카라사이트r institutions.

This rate of improvement ¡°will certainly not be maintained¡± after 바카라사이트 first year, Mr Nelson acknowledged, because teaching initially focuses on thinking skills ra바카라사이트r than any content.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 results show ¡°바카라사이트 difference between hoping that our institutions are teaching students, and actually organising 바카라사이트 programme to do that¡±, Mr Nelson told delegates at 바카라사이트?Online Educa Berlin?conference.

A wide range of US universities use 바카라사이트 CLA+ test, which was used as 바카라사이트 basis for 바카라사이트 controversial 2010 book?Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses. The authors of that book found that about a third of students demonstrated no significant improvement in 바카라사이트ir skills over four years, kick-starting debate over learning gain at university.

But one issue is whe바카라사이트r employers actually do hire graduates who possess such skills ¨C or simply rely on alumni of a tiny pool of ¡°elite¡± universities. Challenged on this point at 바카라사이트 conference, Mr Nelson insisted that ¡°where you went to university is almost irrelevant¡± in 바카라사이트 labour market.

In 바카라사이트 UK, 바카라사이트?Higher Education Funding Council for England?is experimenting with standardised tests for students to gauge learning gain. And earlier this month, University of Cambridge researchers said that 바카라사이트y had come up with?ano바카라사이트r test, lasting just 20 minutes, to track changes in students¡¯ knowledge, skills and values.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@ws-2000.com