| |
> 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
|
|
Message has 2 Replies:
 | | Re: Rush: "Lego is a Tool for 4 year olds"
|
| After looking at the article again my interpretation of what was said is different from yours. No students were selected for the program because they were black or Hispanic. It was an option given to students with average grade performance whose (...) (25 years ago, 4-Feb-00, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
|
Message is in Reply To:
89 Messages in This Thread:
  
- Entire Thread on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
This Message and its Replies on One Page:
- Nested:
All | Brief | Compact | Dots
Linear:
All | Brief | Compact
|
|
|
|
