Writing Skills Singled Out

Submitted by cel4145 on October 3, 2006 - 11:35.

As reported by Inside Higher Ed today, the Conference Board's Most Young People Entering the U.S. Workforce Lack Critical Skills Essential for Success is based on a survey of human resource personnel. Notably, writing has been "singled out" in this report as one area where new hires are least prepared:

Nearly three-quarters (72 percent) of incoming high school graduates are viewed as deficient in basic English writing skills, including grammar and spelling. And, when asked about readiness with regard to applied skills related to the workplace, the greatest deficiency was reported in written communications (memos, letters, complex technical reports), and in professionalism and work ethic. Eighty-one percent of survey participants say their high school graduate hires were deficient in written communications.

Poor writing skills also continued to be a problem among both two-year and four-year college graduates. Nearly half of all survey participants (47 percent) report that two-year college graduates are deficient in this skill.

So...will writing teachers get blamed for this deficiency? Or will people begin to listen to us when we say we need smaller class sizes and that students could use even more writing courses?

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learning to write

Submitted by bleckb on October 3, 2006 - 19:30.

It looks like those last two years of a BA are worth something when it comes to being a better writer. Gee, and I always thought the four-year schools were there to drag CC graduates down after they left us, to undermine and not build on what we taught, never mind how they must be ruining the learning of their own students after the first two years had been completed. How could I have been such a fool! More education means more learning?!?! What a revelation! Thanks goodness the business community has set me straight after all these deluded years.

bradley || bleckblog.org

The answer is obvious: More Tech

Submitted by platypus matt on October 4, 2006 - 22:26.

I think the answer is that we need bigger budgets to buy more labor and time-saving devices for the classroom. For instance, I end up wasting a good 10% of each class just rewinding CDs and DVDs. Now, if they'd just provide each room with a DVD Rewinder, that wouldn't be an issue. What's it going to take? World War II? We need more tech!

Check out Barton's gaming blog at Armchair Arcade.

why stop there?

Submitted by cel4145 on October 4, 2006 - 22:38.

Why stop there? I was thinking maybe we should create the Matt Barton automaton to replace the need for having a flesh and blood being teach a class? Once we had the protype built and running, we could market it nationally. Moreover, institutions could get double duty for their money by having the MBX (matt barton xtreme) moonlight during the off hours as a video game tester for ID Software, Nintendo, Lucas Arts, etc.

-----
Charlie | cyberdash

Pre-Order your MBXEEE (Matt Barton XtrEEEme) Today!!

Submitted by platypus matt on October 4, 2006 - 23:06.

Two points.

One, judging by the vacant stares, puddles of drool, and (in some cases) total lack of a pulse in many of our students exposed to 150-minute PowerPoint presentations made by Dr. Yawnotone, I doubt that there's much "flesh and blood" to worry about anyway. As long as the robot clicked or beeped occasionally everything would be fine. It'd be like those beeps your microwave makes when it's done warming up your spam? Beep-beep-beep-beep "And there you have it, folks, a quick intro to Heidegger." beep. Still not sold? Just imagine--all those robots--and not a single one of their blessed little chromium-coated bodies allergic to standardized testin'. "Okay class, insert your scantrons into the slot on my abdomen." Bzzzt. Bzzzt. "You're a very special boy, Tommy! But I'm afraid you're going to have to repeat this course. But that's actually good news for me, because I enjoy being your teacher!" beep. "Go ahead and hit me with your crackpipe, Tommy, but remember--I'm made of aircraft grade titanium! And you're not!"

Point Two. The MBX model (as opposed to the standard) comes equipped with what's called a "Deconstructor." Basically, that means that if you combine him with all the other deconstructors (there are five; collect'em all!!) then they can combine to form the DERRIDIODE. They're guaranteed to binary your opposition into one great bejeezus of a cyborg manifesto. Eh. It's not that useful, really. But the memex is great.

Check out Barton's gaming blog at Armchair Arcade.