1. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 1 Navigating Your Future: Principles for Student Success Chapter Two Understanding Why You Came To College Navigating Your Future: Principles for Student Success By James G. Beierlein & Barbara K. Wade Chapter Two Understanding Why You Came To College

2. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 2 Role of College in Reaching Your Life Goals Education is now a life long activityEducation is now a life long activity Your college education gives the skills needed to pursue life long learningYour college education gives the skills needed to pursue life long learning This process of educational renewal is what keeps your skills current and keeps your career moving forwardThis process of educational renewal is what keeps your skills current and keeps your career moving forward

3. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 3 The Transition from High School to College Learning High School ~ Acquisition of basic facts and procedures usually done by memorizationHigh School ~ Acquisition of basic facts and procedures usually done by memorization This was appropriate for your first steps in learning how to learnThis was appropriate for your first steps in learning how to learn College ~ Learn how to thinkCollege ~ Learn how to think Calls for learning skills beyond those used in high schoolCalls for learning skills beyond those used in high school

4. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 4 College Learning Transforms You into a Critical Thinker Who: Can distinguish between fact and opinionCan distinguish between fact and opinion Can draw conclusions from dataCan draw conclusions from data Can recognize assumptions underlying conclusionsCan recognize assumptions underlying conclusions Can recognize the limits of dataCan recognize the limits of data Can develop a plan to solve a problemCan develop a plan to solve a problem Can explain it all clearly orally & in writingCan explain it all clearly orally & in writing

5. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 5 Critical Thinkers Operate Comfortably at All Six Levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy When you can do this you are ready for the rigors of college and life long learningWhen you can do this you are ready for the rigors of college and life long learning The sooner this happens, the sooner you will be successful in collegeThe sooner this happens, the sooner you will be successful in college

6. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 6 Education vs. Training Training ~ Takes your learning skills to the first three levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (remember, understand, & apply)Training ~ Takes your learning skills to the first three levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy (remember, understand, & apply) Education ~ Takes your learning skills to all six levels of Bloom’s TaxonomyEducation ~ Takes your learning skills to all six levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy An education takes you beyond the “what” & the “how” to understand the reasons and principles of doing somethingAn education takes you beyond the “what” & the “how” to understand the reasons and principles of doing something

7. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 7 The Value of the Liberal Arts A college degree makes you an educated person and a leader in societyA college degree makes you an educated person and a leader in society Your life will involve more than workYour life will involve more than work You must be a good citizen and solve the problems of everyday lifeYou must be a good citizen and solve the problems of everyday life This process is easier if you understand our world and its pastThis process is easier if you understand our world and its past

8. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 8 The Value of the Liberal Arts… Is to give you an understanding of the shared values, customs, and institutions of our western culture so you will be a responsible citizen who can make informed decisions in our democracy Is to give you an understanding of the shared values, customs, and institutions of our western culture so you will be a responsible citizen who can make informed decisions in our democracy

9. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 9 The Liberal Arts Fine Arts ~ Art, Music, Dance, Theater Humanities ~ Literature, Languages, History, Philosophy, Religion Natural Sciences ~ Math, Astronomy, Geography, Physics, Biology, Chemistry Social Sciences ~ Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Anthropology Fine Arts ~ Art, Music, Dance, Theater Humanities ~ Literature, Languages, History, Philosophy, Religion Natural Sciences ~ Math, Astronomy, Geography, Physics, Biology, Chemistry Social Sciences ~ Economics, Sociology, Psychology, Political Science, Anthropology

10. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 10 “A liberal arts education is the ideal foundation for an informed and productive life. The liberal arts - including the fine arts, the humanities, mathematics, the natural and social sciences - have created the social, political, economic, and intellectual systems which help define contemporary existence. Therefore, it is essential that students grasp the modes of inquiry and knowledge associated with these disciplines” From the Lycoming College catalogue, a liberal arts college in Williamsport, PA founded in 1812 What do you think about this statement?

11. Chapter 2Copyright 2002 Houghton Mifflin Company - All Rights Reserved 11 What Are Your Reasons for Coming to College? Take a moment to reflect and respond to this question