I have a hunch about what some folks here mean by universities refusing to
become LO's, and I'd appreciate agreement or refutation or in between!
I think some of the folks have theories and theses about what the
universities should be "learning," and they mean by that that the
universities should be adapting new ways of working that the critics think
are superior to current and traditional practice.
Examples: some think the lecture is obsolete, that the "sage on stage"
should be replaced by "the guide by the side", and the resistnace of
faculty to changing demonstrates that the colleges are not learning
organizations.
(It does not occur, I think, to these critics, that it may be possible
that the refusal of many faculty to become guides by the side is sound, is
appropriate.)
Or the critics think the colleges should be individualizing instructor, or
recognizing that there are multiple intelligences other than the verbal,
or that there are many "cognitive" and "learning" styles that the college
shuld tailor instruction to, or ending the grading system...and on with a
long list of reforms which the critics believe would radically improve
teaching and learning.
On the other hand, there are those like management guru Peter Drucker who
believe that the college model of organization and governance is the model
of the future, the model that business and industry will increasingly
imitate: small, decentralized unit, self governing, with comparatively
little power and control from above.
One question, raised here before, is what is the evidence that suggests
the colleges of our nation and the world are not learning, are not
learning organizations?
Or that if the typical college class was organized like the LO listserv
learning would be improved?
Steve Eskow
> I too am interested in the idea of Universities and LO's.
>
> In my experience Universities exhibit a lack of understanding of such
> concepts beyond the pure academic challenge. There is to some extent a
> reality gap which prevents that which is being espoused being put into
> operation. My theory so far is that whilst the academics may have the
> knowledge, and indeed the desire to promote the LO culture within their
> organisation, it is the administrators who are responsible for the
> operational aspects of the organisation. It is to some extent a case of
> those with the expertise being in the wrong place.
--"Dr. Steve Eskow" <dreskow@durand.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>