Academically Adrift is a new book about college.
•36 percent of students "did not demonstrate any significant improvement in learning" over four years of college.
50 percent said they didn't have a single course that required 20 pages of writing in their previous semester
Modern students study only around 12 hours per week. One possible cause is student evaluations, which encourage professors to make class entertaining and grade leniently.
In the 1960's, students studied 25 hours per week, over twice as much. Why? I think college has become more accessible and less selective. At the same time, students are richer, with higher wages. A typical 1960's student was really smart and poor, and consequently worked hard to get an elite college degree. But a typical modern student doesn't learn as easily and has better uses of time outside class (jobs, social life, etc.). As wages have risen, college costs more in terms of money, but less in terms of time. What is your explanation for why students are studying less?
NPR Article
Inside Higher Ed Article
•36 percent of students "did not demonstrate any significant improvement in learning" over four years of college.
50 percent said they didn't have a single course that required 20 pages of writing in their previous semester
Modern students study only around 12 hours per week. One possible cause is student evaluations, which encourage professors to make class entertaining and grade leniently.
In the 1960's, students studied 25 hours per week, over twice as much. Why? I think college has become more accessible and less selective. At the same time, students are richer, with higher wages. A typical 1960's student was really smart and poor, and consequently worked hard to get an elite college degree. But a typical modern student doesn't learn as easily and has better uses of time outside class (jobs, social life, etc.). As wages have risen, college costs more in terms of money, but less in terms of time. What is your explanation for why students are studying less?
NPR Article
Inside Higher Ed Article