Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Study Shows Student Evaluations Have Nothing to Do With Quality of Learning

Your looking at your end of course survey and find that you have been bashed by a couple of students for grading "too hard" and being "unfair in grading". With near perfect prose, which they didn't show in the classroom, they go on a long winded discussion on how poor of an instructor you are. I almost want to give them an A for the quality of their writing. With some luck you also might find an equal amount of positive comments but they are usually shorter such as ,"Great instructor!" and "Love the Class". The good news is that student evaluations have no reflection on your skill as an instructor. One could make an additional argument that high ratings doesn't necessarily mean your a good instructor.

A study discussed in Inside Higher Ed helps show that there is almost no correlation between instructor quality and student evaluations. Previous studies showed only a mild correlation based on flawed research and limited examples. A recent study shows shows there is almost no correlation and it is unwise to use such information in professor evaluations for promotion and pay.

Students come to each classroom with different skill sets and abilities. While the study didn't address this issue but those who give the highest grades are likely to have higher ratings while those that challenge students are likely to give poor ratings. The grades are seen as a scorecard and those professors that push their students to learn stand in the way of a high GPA.

The study should make us reconsider student evaluations for specific instructors. Is the purpose of higher education to make students feel happy with the class or is it to have them learn more? If we are seeking to raise student learning for a higher performing graduate that is capable of meeting the demands of work and society then it may not be wise to determine merit based on how much the students like or dislike an instructor as described in a few short questions.




Tuesday, September 20, 2016

On the Path to Ultra Nationalism

Americans are struggling with some fears about the global economy and their place within it. Some have been displaced and many others have struggled to make financial headway. Most are living pay-check to pay-check with little respite. As the U.S. comes to grip with the rise of China and Asia it will need to consider some serious paths and consequences going forward.

The people, and their representatives, will choose between greater global interaction or the charm of protectionism economics. One embraces the world and encourages the country to become more competitive while the other partially disengages somewhat from the international community and seeks to create protected industries that employ Americans.

There is nothing inherently wrong with either approach but one leads to a better long-term outcome than another. There is nothing more or less patriotic in one approach over another regardless of the feelings associated with protectionism. Patriotism is that which is best for one's nation and most importantly its people!

Research has shown that countries that engage in isolation and protectionism become weaker over time. They cannot hedge their best capacity and resources to create value. Their approach is to artificially produce everything with heavy government subsidies that no system can sustain without complete economic control.

While all businesses should be given an opportunity to enter the market they should do so based on their capacity so they can grow large and strong on their natural abilities. Creating the right environment for business growth impacts all industries in a positive way without making government shoulder the impossible burden.

For example, protecting some American businesses long enough to get them competitive can be beneficial and China has done this successfully on a number of occasions. However, continuing to protect them beyond their seedling stages from competition leaves these industries weaker and noncompetitive. Protectionist policies only work so long before it hinders growth as the companies fail to adapt to challenges.

If you can't adapt you cant grow!

No doubt America should be a little more selfish with its policies but it should continue to engage and collaborate with the rest of the world. Those nations that are most likely to be successful will create competitive economic environments that draw international investment and resources that spur new innovations and business. Over the years and decades isolationism will cause more problems than it will solve while fixing our government policies will encourage growth and jobs.

Monday, September 19, 2016

The U.S. Fails to Maximize Gifted Education for Economic Development

Gifted people are often left out from full development and this has an impact on the American economy. Our economic development and growth comes from innovation and new product creation. Failing to develop policies that further their advancement leaves a major source of intellectual capital untapped and wasted.

A study in the Journal of Advanced Academics found that description of gifted students is lacking, current students may not fit the appropriate definition, and the programs are not truly maximized (Kettler, 2016). Many students in these programs are not "gifted".  The author further makes the argument that such programs are not studied by economists in a way that encourages better policy development.

The problem many educators face is that smart and gifted are not exactly the same thing. Smart people give you the answers you want while gifted give you the truest answers you may not be aware of. This means that gifted people may not actually be entering the programs or be developed for a nation because they are not straight A students with text book answers.

As a nation we don't want students to give us text book answers; at least not always. It is new ways of perceiving and doing things that will make a difference. Text book answers are beneficial but active interest in how the student constructed their understanding is more important. One leads to innovation the other continues down predefined knowledge paths.

Groundbreaking research and new developments that can impact our economy need new ways of understand the world. Gifted students may actually be left out of development and marginalized in society only because administrators, professors, and teachers can't select appropriately. Our human and intellectual capital suffers when our best and brightest don't have an opportunity to come forward.  

Kettler, T. (2016). Why are economists evaluating the impact of gifted education? Journal of Advanced Academics, 27 (2). 


Saturday, September 17, 2016

Burning Calories and Socializing with Salsa Dancing

San Diego is one of those places where Salsa is popular. Likely, a result of the Spanish and Mexican influence in the area. In the area there are plenty of places to engage in salsa and free classes are usually offered before the event itself.  You can socialize and burn calories at the same time.

I have to admit. I'm not a very good salsa dancer. I took some classes a while ago and then went to a salsa event recently and found that compared to these enthusiastic dancers I was poorly lacking in skills. However, people are accommodating and definitely willing to work with you.

Socializing is easy. People are paired and almost everyone is willing to accommodate at least one dance. Guys can ask Ladies and Ladies can ask the Guys. It won't take long and you will meet other people who come on a regular basis and find a main partner.

You can also burn a lot of calories that can be as much as 300 to 500 in an hour depending on how enthusiastic you are. I probably only burned about 200 but this is because I'm still learning. Those that come on a regular basis are in great shape.

Look around of San Diego Salsa events.


Friday, September 16, 2016

What is it like to do research at a University?

Reading a Journal Publication on a boat
University research is an interesting and exciting endeavor. Sometimes it can be tedious and routine, especially if you are number crunching or working with data, but it can also provide great meaning for doctors that seek to contribute to society. The type of research you will enjoy is based on your personality and the type of design that suits you.

There are professors out there that love....just love...love...numbers! Where I might run in the other direction and jump for the latest SPSS software they are more likely to pull out their scientific calculator and do number crunching for the fun of it! I swear they think of it like a puzzle that needs to be solved.

Personally, I enjoy exploring new unique ideas that other people haven't come to full understanding about. For example, is our economic system based on financial transactions or the neuro-economic choices we make? Or something like a sociological perspective on how social chatter leads to perception and future decisions.

Specifics or wild conjecture have advantages for society. New quantitative research often provides better understanding of how connected variables are. Qualitative mental exploration of untested ideas leads to major paradigm shifts in research. One change in a new association often leads to complete changes in society.

People who do research spend hours, days, years and decades exploring the same topics over and over. Some have even given over their whole lives to discovering a new idea. One idea can put a person into the mental hall of fame like Einstein but doesn't often do much for their checkbooks. Don't expect to be rich but try and enjoy the ride.






Harvard's Eight Point Plan for Economic Recovery

There is little doubt that the U.S. economy is running toward being a second place leader in the economy. While we haggle and engage in brutal politics the world is starting to pass us by. We could pass around the blame but we are all partly at fault for letting reason and reasonableness pass us by in an effort to score ideological points. Harvard's report highlights the fall out from political infighting and the inability to come up with strong solutions. They propose an 8 point plan for government to work on.

Americans are making less money than before and are fed up with the political immaturity that hasn't gotten anything done. Business leaders are somewhat pessimistic over the economy for the next few years and don't feel their prospects are likely to grow. They are ready to invest but just need the right environment to make things happen and that means getting government on board to change.

While the U.S. economy retains critical strengths in areas such as communications, firm management, and innovation is does suffer under poor early education, weak transportation infrastructure, a diseased healthcare system, the tax code and the U.S. Politics. We don't seem to be in alignment on how to fix these issues.

At this point we have to rethink how we do things from a political and economic standpoint.

They have an 8 point plan which includes:

1 Simplify the corporate tax code with lower statutory rates and no loopholes
2 Move to a territorial tax system like all other leading nations
3 Ease the immigration of highly skilled individuals
4 Aggressively address distortions and abuses in the international trading system 5 Improve logistics, communications, and energy infrastructure
6 Simplify and streamline regulation
7 Create a sustainable federal budget, including reform of entitlements
8 Responsibly develop America’s unconventional energy advantage

You can review the report yourself below

http://www.hbs.edu/competitiveness/Documents/problems-unsolved-and-a-nation-divided.pdf


Thursday, September 15, 2016

When the Wind Doesn't Push Your Sails

There are times when sailing offer the great excitement of a solid wind and a good heel. You are dead in the water and can't go anywhere. There is no movement forward, no ability to steer, and no way to control the boat. Playing with sails doesn't seem to do anything. Being patient and making small adjustments might make a big difference in getting the vessel moving again.

It is a lot like life. Sometimes there is just a little wind to work with and small adjustments is all you can do. Be patient because eventually the wind does return to your sails and everything comes to life again.

Sailing is a fun sport that is both exciting and relaxing at the same time. Sometimes things are moving quick and you are weaving in and out of traffic trying to overcome other ships while at other times your just watching the sunset on the horizon. Mostly, your just feeling the breeze on your face and talking to friends.