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Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:36:05 +0100

Please all visit my post on: "Intellectual Intelligence is Good?"

Thank you :-)

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 02:56:59 +0100

Diversity is critical to learning. We all have opinions and beliefs, but we don't learn to fully examine these beliefs until they are challenged and questioned.

While some of that is done in the classroom, much more is done when we interact with people who've had different experiences. Such experiences may be due to differences in race, gender, religious belief, cultural heritage, economic status, urban versus rural upbringing and so forth. Diversity is the result of a myriad of experiences, each of which can give us new ways of looking at our own ideas.

As we learn to become comfortable questioning our own ideas and beliefs, we also learn to examine other issues or problems from a variety of vantage points. This in turn aids our creativity and problem solving skills both in the classroom and at work.

While we often discuss diversity in terms of improving human interaction in society, it is equally important in promoting critical thinking.

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:19:44 +0100

"Diversity" has become a buzz word in America for educational institutions, corporations and governments who use the concept to market themselves as progressive organizations. Tilghman champions an abstract concept of "diversity" in education without adequately defining "diversity" or providing any evidence that it enhances one's education. This is ironic since Tighman also champions the merits of a liberal arts education, which teaches students to question beliefs and seek clear definitions of reality through reason. Simply putting people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds on the same college campus does not create diversity, in the way that Tilghman seems to imagine. What is the outcome of diversity in education? How do you ensure that people from diverse backgrounds actively engage in equal and productive discourse? How do you measure the benefits of "diversity"? These are the critical questions that are rarely addressed beyond the insular intellectual discussion.

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 04:08:33 +0100

Ma'am I could not agree with you more. Diversity is extremely important for the student's life and the life of everyone else. Without it, students would be taught in a cookie cutter form on everything. Sure it may be efficient to teach in that manner; however, creativity is destroyed by something like that. Opposing ideas and different perspectives allow students to creative and also gives them the opportunity to decide for themselves what it correct or how to look at something. Some Universities do a good job at this. The University at which I'm a current student is one of those.

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:18:45 +0100

Diversity on the surface and unity at the depth is the characteristic quality of the universe at large. The tradition of modern science, culminating in the recent discovery of the unified field at the basis of all the laws of nature, confirms this. Diversity of culture, race, etc., can therefore be regarded as an expression of the natural design of life. Higher education falls short not by welcoming diversity, but by neglecting to incorporate fully the most up-to-date discoveries regarding the unity at the basis of diversity. Only through reference to a common source, can differences be fully harmonized. To end the clash of cultures that threatens our world, higher education must bring higher consciousness--awareness of the underlying unity of life--to its students.

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 21:07:07 +0100

Diversity is VERY important. Not only is a diversity in the physical realm important, but diversity of learning that reflects the intricacies and complexities of our world is necessary for students for succeed after they leave college. Too often students become isolated in programs and colleges that do not offer a wide breadth of ideas that stimulate them to see the bigger picture. Whether students take on liberal arts studies or specialized training, the world remains a dynamic place that requires everyone to think critically.

Comment on: Diversity in Higher Education: How important is it?

Bigthink — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 18:22:29 +0100

Diversity is important. It allows us to communicate & to understand perspectives. Being from a small town, I went to a small university where there was diversity, but I never felt engaged in it. I would work with other people, but I never learned about other cultures or beliefs-my fault-but I did not feel comfortable asking questions. I believe that 9-11 opened our eyes to diversity & how important it is for everyone. Understanding other cultures may help us to live together peaceably.