Don’t learn noth’n–or maybe they do–depends on the spin

The press reported that a recent study looking at sophomore college students indicated that 45% of those students (out of 2,300) showed no significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing by the end of their sophomore years.

On the surface that seems like a horrible result and for all the money parents and students pay for college, the result is rather shocking however, I wonder if it would seem less shocking with the headline:

“65% of students showed significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing after only two years of college.”

While colleges could do better, I think sometimes the debate about the quality of education goes too far in the other direction. A good deal of positive learning experiences and preparation results from college and work in college so before we get all up in arms, let’s turn the statistics around and look at the positive side of the report.

If you want to read the negatively spun article, go to 45% Of Students Don’t Learn Much In College