PEOPLE & IDEAS
Who thinks some school maths has little practical use?
Andrew Hacker
Find evidence that chemistry is easily forgotten.
“Most people study but forget as soon as they leave school.”
What does “needn’t study them” mean?
It is not necessary to study them.
How many US students who start high school fail to graduate?
One in four.
Why might students choose business courses?
Because they seem relevant to students’ career ambitions.
Who says workplace maths differs from school maths?
John P. Smith III
Find evidence that business students may make poor academic progress.
“Students on business degrees are often the worst.”
What does “good predictors of individual income” mean?
They can help predict how much a person is likely to earn.
What three skills does NACE say employers want?
Communication skills, analytical skills and teamwork skills.
Why does Shank question studying physics as an academic subject?
Because practical inventions can come first and theory may be developed afterwards to explain them.
Who connects cognitive skills with individual income?
Daniel Willingham
Find evidence that an arts degree can be useful for employment.
“89% of the employers surveyed said they would be happy to accept students with an arts background.”
Paraphrase: “make significant losses in knowledge.”
Their knowledge / academic learning decreases.
Where does business rank according to PayScale?
56th place.
Why might studying a subject you dislike affect your success?
Because students who dislike what they study are less likely to be successful professionally and financially.
Who found that reading-intensive modules benefit students?
Esther Cho
Find evidence that business is a highly competitive field.
“One out of every five graduates studied business, so there is even more competition.”
What does “transfer skills to other areas” mean?
Use skills learned in one context in another context.
Which students make good progress in writing and analytical skills?
Students studying science, maths and social science.
What common assumption about vocational degrees does the text challenge?
That vocational degrees necessarily lead to better career prospects or higher pay.
Which organisation found that employers accept arts graduates?
NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers)
Find evidence that how students study affects their progress.
“Students who study alone tend to make better progress than those who study in groups.”
Explain: “relevance isn’t always a guarantee of success.”
A subject that seems useful for a future career does not necessarily lead to academic, professional or financial success.
Which activities produced neither gains nor losses in learning?
Off-campus activities and volunteer opportunities.
What is the main message of the final paragraph?
What students study is not the only factor affecting success; how they study is also important.