Applying Systems Fundamentals to Education

Submitter Photo - Steve (D. E.) Stevenson Submitted by: Steve (D. E.) Stevenson on Aug 06, 2009 at 4:53 pm Tagged with: achievement level, Education, systems Source: D. E. (Steve) Stevenson, Clemson University

For the 30 years I have lived in SC, there have been difficulties achieving education preeminence. By its own statistics, SC Statistical Abstract there are three categories of education, K-12, Bachelors, and Advanced. In all three categories, SC lies towards the bottom of the ranking (10th, 12th, 16th). This is not new news ....

What is discouraging is the lack of problem-solving being applied to the issue. As an example of the disconnect, consider this.

  • The current focus is on the K-12 system, but
  • K-12 improves only when the incoming teachers are better.
  • But improving the teachers means improving the undergraduate education.
  • But SC doesn't support undergraduate education.

My point is that the solution lies in the system. Until we address the systemic causes and solutions, there will be no changes in educational achievement.

These ideas are also floating around professional organizations that are in crisis: the so-called STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) organizations, the Computing Research Association is just one.

Swamp Fox members must see that their success is coupled to hiring and retaining superior talent. It's part of the system; leaving it to Columbia doesn't seem to work.

See 4 other posts submitted by Steve (D. E.) Stevenson. Find articles, people, and videos related to: achievement level, Education, systems