Hmm. I think the article suggests tests are simply part of learning, not merely a means to an end (a grade).
My view is that I would reject a trade-off between information and facts on the one hand, and thinking/understanding on the other. It is rather hard for me to see how one is possible without the other, unless all students need to do is interpret things however they choose. Since politics in many democratic countries (most notably my own, perhaps, but certainly not solely) seems to have a growing disregard and contempt for empirical information/facts and reason, it seems to me we don't do our students any service by suggesting to them that accurate, rather than desired, information is not to be valued. --sv From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lorraine Elliott Sent: Monday, January 24, 2011 5:24 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [gep-ed] kickin it old school Fine if we want students to remember 'information' and 'facts' (which is what the article seemed to focus on). Like most of us, I guess, I'm interested in my how my students can think critically and analytically and, for GEP in particular, what they understand and think about the big political themes and issues. I don't mind if, after having done my course, they don't remember the precise details of UNCHE (way before almost all of them were born), or who the first three UNEP EDs were. I do get cross, though, if they say that UNFCCC and UNCBD were negotiated AT Rio. But I do hope that they walk away with an awareness of the debates around whether and if so how 'mega-conferences' contribute to global environmental governance, or the way in which tensions between developed and developing countries were highlighted by the UNCHE process, or what the debates are about institutional reform etc etc etc. Happy New Year to all. L ----- Original Message ----- From: "VanDeveer, Stacy" <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, January 25, 2011 5:23 am Subject: [gep-ed] kickin it old school To: "Gep-Ed ([email protected])" <[email protected]> > FYI > http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/science/21memory.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=general&src=me<http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/21/science/21memory.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=general&src=me> > > > > Stacy D. VanDeveer > Associate Professor University of New Hampshire > Dept. of Political Science > Horton SSC > Durham, NH 03824 USA > [email protected]<javascript:main.compose('new',%20'[email protected]')> > tel: > fax: > mobile: > Skype ID: (+1) 603-862-0167 <http://www.plaxo.com/click_to_call?lang=en&src=jj_signature&To=%28%2B1%29+603%2D862%2D0167&[email protected]> > (+1) 603-862-0178 > (+1) 781-321-5880 > <http://www.plaxo.com/click_to_call?lang=en&src=jj_signature&To=%28%2B1%29+781%2D321%2D5880&[email protected]> > stacy.vandeveer > Want to always have my latest > info?<https://www.plaxo.com/add_me?u=51539758810&src=client_sig_212_1_banner_join&invite=1&lang=en> Want a signature like this?<http://www.plaxo.com/signature?src=client_sig_212_1_banner_sig&lang=en> > > > [cid:[email protected]] > [cid:[email protected]] Professor Lorraine Elliott Department of International Relations School of International, Political and Strategic Studies ANU College of Asia and the Pacific The Australian National University Canberra, ACT 0200 Australia t: +61 2 6125 0589 f: +61 2 6125 8010 e: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> http://ips.cap.anu.edu.au/ir ANU CRICOS provider code #00120C 'Any idiot can face a crisis - it's this day to day living that wears you out', Anton Chekhov
