In responses to my posts in this thread, it seems that some have obtained the
impression that, because some students believe that general-studies courses are
irrelevant to their future careers, that perhaps these courses should be
eliminated. This was not my intention. The following passage, in particular,
seemed to trouble a couple people:
>Over the years, my interactions with students (in addition to teaching
>psychology, I am also an academic advisor at our school's advisement center)
>had led me to believe that many of them feel that the general-studies classes
>they take during their first two years of college are not useful to them in
>terms of their future occupations. It seemed to me that they were being good
>Gestaltians. That was the starting point of the survey I did. I was surprised
>that 60% of them felt otherwise. Thus, I am now more inclined to view it as
>you do. Nonetheless, a minority of my students (and not a small minority) DO
>seem to view the whole experience as more or less irrelevant for their
>futures. I think they ARE being good Gestaltians, even if I do not agree with
>their reasoning.
The last sentence, I hope, shows that I am NOT in agreement with such students. My
goal in giving the survey to them was to see WHAT students are thinking about
their courses. In knowing this, I hope to find better ways to teach my courses and
to show students that general-studies courses ARE relevant for many things (and
not only for their future jobs).
Jeff
--
Jeffry P. Ricker, Ph.D. Office Phone: (480) 423-6213
9000 E. Chaparral Rd. FAX Number: (480) 423-6298
Psychology Department [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale, AZ 85256-2626
"The truth is rare and never simple."
Oscar Wilde
"Science must begin with myths and with the criticism of myths"
Karl Popper
"If you want to learn new things, you should try reading old books."
Richard Cytowic
