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January 29, 2010
Will This Rising Tide Raise All Ships?
By Bob Connor, The Teagle Foundation
A few years ago I was on a panel at the meeting of a disciplinary society (which shall remain nameless). The topic was, you guessed it, improving student learning in that discipline’s major. There were some big names on the panel and some good presentations, but the attendance was dismal and the discussion lackluster.
Things may be changing.
The economists have met, and convened a panel on a similar subject. The session on teaching and the financial crisis, chaired by David Colander of Middlebury College and sponsored by the Committee on Economic Education had 400 people in attendance, a lively discussion, and was followed by a book signing.
The book, edited by David Colander and KimMarie McGoldrick of the University of Richmond is entitled Educating Economists: The Teagle Discussion on Re-evaluating the Undergraduate Economics Major and was published by Edward Elgar in November 2009. It reprints the Teagle report and adds 22 responses and discussions (plus a preface and introduction, bibliography and index). The authors of these pieces range from undergraduate students, to community college teachers, to faculty at liberal arts colleges (many!), to Benjamin Friedman who once chaired the economics department at Harvard, to the Dean at Georgetown, and to Cappy Hill, the president at Vassar.
What I like most about the book is that it does not try to develop a bland consensus. It makes provocative suggestions in the explicit hope of provoking a lively discussion. It has clearly done that and there is more to come with the help of additional Teagle support. The tide is rising.
But here’s the big question: Is the rising interest the economists are showing in improving the undergraduate major in their field also evident in other fields? Is the tide rising in other harbors too?
PS. Many readers of the Liblog know that I have now retired as president of the Teagle Foundation, but will continue part time as a “Senior Advisor.” I plan to keep commenting on higher education even as we make some changes in the Liblog. Stay tuned!
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