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Our Underachieving Colleges: A Candid Look…
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Our Underachieving Colleges: A Candid Look at How Much Students Learn and Why They Should Be Learning More (edition 2005)

by Derek Bok

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
1933139,714 (3.73)11
Offers a condensed, but still interesting, review of higher education as an industry - focusing on the evolving purpose of higher education and public expectations. Reviews current state of teaching/learning relative to several important outcomes and finds practices unacceptable. Suggested solutions are somewhat beyond most readers sphere of influence. Hopefully this book can focus public/media attention on teaching practices in higher education. ( )
  jgrann | Oct 28, 2009 |
Showing 3 of 3
I was not too impressed with this book. Maybe it is because I am an experienced teacher, and I have been in higher education long enough to see the points Bok is making about complacency in academia and the entrenched conservative ways that prevent change. After reading for a while, you can easily end up despairing at a system that pretty much refuses to change while the rest of the world is at the gates besieging them. Some of what he writes I have seen elsewhere in bits and pieces. The fact is that the graduates of our colleges are underachieving, and they are doing so where it matters. Lack of moral values, critical thinking skills, communication skills, civic responsibility, so on. They are just not learning it in college, and yet college should be the place to be learning all this and more in order to become a well-rounded person and a productive citizen able to participate in society. Indeed, reading this book may drive some to despair, but maybe someone will actually read it and think of ways to gradually bring about some change. At least, I'd like to think so. ( )
  bloodravenlib | Aug 17, 2020 |
This review was written for LibraryThing Member Giveaways.
In this book, Derek Bok does an incredible job of laying out the shortcomings in undergraduate education. However, he does this without failing to acknowledge the good being achieved. As a former college president Dr. Bok speaks from a position of authority on the subject. The problems he identifies he backs up with thorough, thought provoking research. He does not just leave the problems as they stand but offers helpful, realistic suggestions for improvement. The greatest strenght of Dr. Bok's book is that he appreciates the complexity of the problem. The issues he raises as well as the solutions he proposes are not simplistic answers to superficial issues. This book is a must read for anyone involved in education. On top of all that, it is well written and thus a pleasure to read. In fact, I recommend it for anyone who enjoys reading a well written book. ( )
  frisbeeguy49 | Apr 3, 2012 |
Offers a condensed, but still interesting, review of higher education as an industry - focusing on the evolving purpose of higher education and public expectations. Reviews current state of teaching/learning relative to several important outcomes and finds practices unacceptable. Suggested solutions are somewhat beyond most readers sphere of influence. Hopefully this book can focus public/media attention on teaching practices in higher education. ( )
  jgrann | Oct 28, 2009 |
Showing 3 of 3

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