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Although this podcast is about how to be a good teacher, it features some interesting thoughts about reflection and supportive learning communities when trying to improve your professional skills, in this case education.

Although this podcast is about how to be a good teacher, it features some interesting thoughts about reflection and supportive learning communities when trying to improve your professional skills, in this case education.

As a higher education employee, it's interesting to me to hear about what the new trends are in terms of programs at other universities compared with our own. This article both saddens and inspires me, because it discusses how the study of humanities may be in danger, because it is not considered "practical" and does not always lead to a definite career path. I am reminded of how some K-12 administrators are taking away programs in the arts, to free up more time for math and science, subjects that are considered more important because of statewide testing. The article inspires me, because it goes further, to mention what some specific colleges are doing to increase focus and enrollment in humanities fields, and how the colleges and universities are trying to hold on to these fields, despite the low enrollment. I would be interested to see how these techniques end up working, and how the schools plan on evaluating them.

This article discusses the use of large-scale randomized trials to evaluate social policy. For decades, policy makers have rolled out changes without taking the time to conduct research to determine if the idea would be effective. One reason policy makers shun trials is the reality that the trials and experiments do not always support the ideas or policies. Rather than taking the time to conduct trials, policy makers prefer to "act swiftly" and propose policy. The article references the efforts of abstinence education, Scared straight programs, drug testing in prison populations, and school driving programs as examples of policies that have not worked--the research and data suggest the programs are not effective, yet policy makers continue to support the efforts.

Julie's point about not taking the time is a good one. This article was somewhat shocking in that it highlighted just how poor the research is behind many of our public policies and programs. Policy makers and politicians rush to gain political capital by moving decisively when they have only a kernel of research in support of their claims, without taking the time or making an effort to test the findings or dig deeper. After a policy or program is in place, it is not in their best interests to support research which may disprove the efficacy of what they have put in place. This could all tie back to our educational system, to whether or not we teach solid critical thinking and research skills.

I found this article to be very interesting. My favorite part was the study done in schools that polled the most influential peers, informed them on dangers of smoking, and attempted to decrease smoking by reverse peer pressure. I think this was a great idea!!!