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I am glad I read this whole thread before jumping in. I just want to say
that I agree with Robert.
--
Have fun!
John
The Legos you've been dreaming of...
http://www114.pair.com/ig88/lego
my weird Lego site:
http://www114.pair.com/ig88/
Robert Brunskill wrote in message ...
> > Going to college
> > has NOTHING to do with "initiative, leadership and an ability to work
> > in groups ". Working in the real world deals with these issues, and
> > college is about as removed from reality as anything.
>
> This is changing. Businesses want people who know how to work together,
> cooperate, and communicate. While a high grade student probably won't have
> trouble getting a job, an average student from one school is more likely to
> be passed over for a average student from a school known for producing
> communicators and cooperators. The internet and telecommunications is
> changing the way we work. Not only does that change require communication
> skills, the jobs being performed are so complex that no one person can fill
> a position. Work delegation and cooperation is more important than ever.
> This is why our job market is so strong, companies need assistants.
>
> > Testing for this ability to build LEGO's with other students as
> > admission to college is plain wrong, and is rather distressing. College
> > admission should be a combination of school work, and drive, and not
> > with building a LEGO robot. This is a pitiful attempt on getting around
> > rulings of law, instead of addressing the problems of minorities and
> > their test scores.
>
> The idea here is that traditional SAT's really only test raw knowledge. • They
> test to see if you know the answer, or know enough to get the right answer.
> The experimental testing is to try to test for traits and abilities that
> cannot be found using multiple choice.
>
> > Rush points out the hypocracy of these admissions, and I am glad someone
> > does.
>
> Before you just go agreeing with what Rush says, have a look at the • original
> article. The Lego portion is only 5% to 9% of the test.
>
> "The Lego test [they have 10 minutes to build a robot] is one of a dozen
> workshop activities over three hours... Other activities include public
> speaking, conflict-resolution drills and personal interviews performed • under
> the watchful eye of high school principals, teachers, counselors and • college
> admissions deans who evaluate the college hopefuls."
>
> If that's not pressure to perform, I don't know what is.
>
> And on top of that...
>
> "After the battery of exercises, evaluators conduct half-hour interviews
> with each student to identify qualities such as a willingness to seek help
> if they're struggling academically. The interviews account for one-third of
> their total score."
>
> So now the Lego test counts for potentially as little as 3 1/3%, at most
> about 6% of their entrance exam.
>
> I think the most important thing that Rush and yourself are overlooking is
> that it's still experimental. The test is being tested!
>
> "[Bial] will track the students throughout their college careers, comparing
> retention, grades, graduation rates and contributions to their campus
> communities with all other students at the schools, as well as with other
> students with similar high school grades and standardized test scores.
>
> If the pilot program succeeds, Bial plans to open centers to conduct the
> tests on any student who wants them in urban areas across the country."
>
> So your fears are addressed right here...
>
> "The tests could probably withstand legal challenges as long as whites as
> well as minorities take them, said Terence Pell, a lawyer at the Center of
> Individual Rights, a Washington-based non-profit law group that has sued
> colleges over affirmative action."
>
> And how does this plan compare to...
>
> "Universities across the country are adopting different strategies to get
> around tightening legal restrictions on affirmative action. Florida
> announced in November that state universities won't consider race when
> making college admissions but instead will take the top 20 percent of the
> graduating class from every state high school to maintain diversity. In
> Texas, the top 10 percent are eligible for admission."
>
> Now THAT'S skirting the issue!
>
> I think this quote sums it up pretty well...
>
> "The more selective a college is, the more it needs to be in tune to
> measuring motivation, drive, perseverance and adaptability - the things • that
> really translate into college success."
>
> As for the hoopla, someone else on Slashdot had a quote that sums that up
> well...
>
> "Naturally, the "Lego test" gets the headline because it sounds • outrageous."
>
> And yes, surprise, surprise, Rush is just out to spout off about something
> that sounds outrageous.
>
>
> Rob
>
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Message has 1 Reply:
 | | Re: Rush: "Lego is a Tool for 4 year olds"
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| To All, OK, folks, since nobody got the ideas posting on this subject, especially from me, let's see if I can clear this up: 1) If this LEGO test to determine different skills was one of the factors to determine certain characteristics that the (...) (25 years ago, 2-Feb-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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