Can Universities Help Students Learn to Live a Higher Quality Life?

Students are the center of the academic world. We often hope to create graduates that are skillful in their jobs and with any luck contribute to society through economic and personal contributions. As academics we often think it is about teaching students job skills to meet employment requirements and ignore the quality of life issues. Yet this is what makes the biggest differences to society when students live well and maximize their contributions to society.

Things that students need to learn range from balancing checkbooks to getting regular exercise. The problem is that many of these things are outside the range of normal education.  Higher education is meant to improve lives and often does as more knowledge is gained. Why not focus on life improvement?

College is a transition from old ways of thinking to new ways of thinking. It is about create greater awareness. This awareness should be about one's life, job, and ways of thinking. As higher education increases student's lives it leaves them feeling more fulfilled.

To rectify job skills with life skills into the same curriculum is difficult. The same paradox occurs in companies where human resource management and work-life balance impacts actual performance. There is little difference as you are working on the "entire individual".

One way to integrate these concepts within a school is to use more case studies of individual choice and relate actual decision making to outcomes. This requires the study to be focused a little more on the individual and explanations on how life impacts personal career outcomes.

Another way to do this is through offering required and elective classes that relate to personal finance, investment, time management, decision making, emotional intelligence, etc... with a few examples that they will use when making personal life decisions. Students may not want to take some of these courses and it may not always be beneficial to do this. For the most part, student satisfaction increases as student maximize their learning outcomes through life-long incremental improvements.

Will Computers Make an "Useless Class"

I was reading a great article on in Philosophy Now by Lochlan Bloom. The argument is that jobs related to intellectualism and fact checking can be done better by computers and this may put some intellectuals out of jobs. The article was thought provoking and well thought out. It did start me thinking about the necessity of using intellectual capital to advance society.

Computers are great at collecting and comparing information. They may not be so great at making new connections. As artificial intelligence rises so does the prospect of "intelligent" thought by machines. New connections might be created and found through the constant analysis of information.

However, such computers may not be able to make intuitive leaps of information like gifted scientists and students can. Creative leaps occur when not all of the information is present but the mind subconsciously makes intuitive guesses that are correct.

Think of artists and scientists that invent a new paradigm shift in our thinking. Such radical thinking is not easy for a computer to master. Computers are logical and follow pre-existing algorithms. They don't think outside these algorithms. Thus...they are left doing the same thing over and over.

The human mind has the capacity to do amazing things. We are only using a few small percentage points at one time. However, by improving our cognitive output and our way of thinking we are able to create and invent in a way that computers can't. As computers advance we are likely to use them for mundane tasks like data collection and analysis while leaving cognitive leaps to humans.

The potential "useless" class will need to be masters of data and creation to stay employed.

The Intolerance of Tolerance-Respectful Civic Debate on Campuses

Our opinions are important and we feel we are "right" with all of the conviction in the world. Lately, we have been blasted with high political and personal intolerance of others opinions. Whether we are discussing morality, religion, politics, or even social demographics a growing sense of "shout them down" radicalism has taken center stage.

If you read the news on a regular basis you will find people grabbing things off of a speakers podium, assaulting others, shouting down, heckling and creating a general nuisance.  The problem has become so pervasive that campuses often have to hire additional security and call police backup for controversial issues.

What does all this say?

It says that we are becoming intolerant of differences of opinion and we are allow our more immature side take over. We are digressing from an open society that seeks knowledge to a closed one that desires conformity to various delusional beliefs.

What is the risk in this?

The risk is that good ideas (or even bad ones) are not being shared and discussed. Those who have some of the best ideas are going to be afraid to bring them forward leaving the loudest and rudest people talking. We don't want our society being run by "the mob".  We are not changing and people are becoming stuck in dogma.

What is the option?

The option is to offer an alternative opportunity for those to discuss their point of review, or debate their ideas, once the scheduled event has ended. People can schedule their own events or offer their own points of view on the topic through different media. However, shouting and screaming don't seem to be beneficial anymore. In some cases it may be beneficial to remove people who are disturbing the peace.

When Doing Sail Boat Repairs Always Get Multiple Quotes

Creating my "to do" list to prepare my sailboat for long distance travel to South America someday I noticed some corrosion on the shaft and packing bladder. To me they looked old and I definitely didn't want to be out in the ocean and have an issue with it leaking. At present it doesn't leak and operates as expected. The risk is that "looking old" could mean a big problem at a time when it could be dangerous so I need to delve into a solution.

I happened to grab a random mechanic off of the docks and ask him a few questions. He graciously came over to my boat, albeit seeking new business, and gave me a few pointers on what I can do to improve my engine. He loved my engine and said this thing will likely never go bad. The Universal engine can be beat with sledge hammers and still work!

Beyond replacing filters, clamps, a few old hoses, and general maintenance the engine looked great and didn't really need a mechanic. He charged me nothing for the advice! The shaft and bladder did seem to be a concern for him. He said he doesn't do that type of work but that I can bring it over to the ship yard across the marina and they can get me a quote. He suspected about 3k!

What!!!!! 3k!!!!!

That is the nature of boat ownership...keep pouring money down the hole in the bottom. If your going to spend money you better get a lot of use out of it or live on it part of the year like I do. Yet, with the other things I need to prepare before being able to sail and live on it for a few weeks at a time in Mexico or some other coastal tropical location it was not an expense I wanted. However, having a solid running engine that can allow me to travel even without he sails is important.

Taking a few pictures I walked over the the boat yard and received some positive news that put my anxiety to rest. To have my boat painted on the bottom (another thing I was going to do) and have a new shaft, packing and propeller would cost me 2K. That is a huge difference in price.

That isn't the best part!

From the pictures it doesn't look like there is anything necessarily wrong other than outside corrosion on the shaft and a few bad clamps. The suggestion was that I re-clamp a rubber bladder, get some vinegar and a scrub brush, and clean up the deposits. Once I have done this I take a few pictures and bring it back to them. There may not be any replacement necessary.

This is what I learned from this situation:

-Always get multiple quotes and talk to the experts for that particular problem.
-Combining your basic skill with good advice can go a long way in solving your own problems at a lower cost.
-Never be cheap on maintenance. It will save you time and headache in the future.
-Take your time and check all of your options.
-Read, read and ask a million questions.

Are you a saver or a spender?

Are you a saver or spender? Savers and spenders have their own characteristics that make some the creators of wealth and others the spenders of wealth. How you handle money will make a big difference in your long-term financial health. With so few Americans saving for retirement it is important to put yourself on the right track.

Savers:

-Independent minded.
-Good with details.
-Like to collect and save.
-Driven by the need for security.
-Put away a certain percentage of their income.
-Often contribute the max to their 401K
-Buy used, work on their own projects, and check alternatives.
-More concerned with practical use.

Spenders:
-Socially minded.
-Like prestigious products that enhance self-image
-Are concerned with luxury items.
-Like to enjoy life in the moment.
-Generally try and maximize their spending capital.
-May not save much for retirement.
-Buy new, look for image and status.

Encouraging Students to Achieve More

Students don't come with a heap load of self-esteem and belief in their abilities. If they came from mediocre schools they will even have more problems with their belief that meaningful effort will lead to meaningful outcomes. Professors can help those students by being positive and engaging in encouraging dialogue.

Consider a few tips:

-Use active language that creates a sense of urgency.

-Use encouraging words

-Follow up with students and questions.

-When assignments are not turned in consider contacting the student.

-Use specific feedback

-Relate answers to the student.

The Frustration and Feelings of Accomplishment that Come from Working on Your Own Stuff

Working on your own equipment, houses, boats, cars, etc... can be a great joy but sometimes comes with lots of frustration. It is this frustration that pushes you to master the challenge if you work your way through it. I am not a rich person so it is wise to work on my own stuff as long as I do things the right way and ensure it is safe and sound.

Frustration is temporary and usually a sign that the challenge is difficult, frustrating and you lack the knowledge or tools. These things you can change with a little effort. As you seek out solving a series of small problems that lead to the fixing of a larger problem you will gain more confidence in your skills.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast then you will really need to learn how to work on your own stuff. Things go wrong when your out in the middle of no where and if you don't have any skills at all you may be up deep creek if your ATV won't start.

1.) Understand that is is a learning process.

2.) Ask a million questions and look online for information.

3.) Ensure that you have the right tools

4.) Try and break a large task down to little tasks for focus and management.

5.) Don't be afraid to call an expert and have them finish the job if you are confused.