Day 6 Global Competency and Thinking about Thinking

Friday arrived with the same routine and the same level of intense discussion. The morning started with a discussion about the critical need for global competency the our college students. I was very encourged to find the scholar leading the discussion talk about engaging Rosetta Stone in his work to build global competency. He advocated a blended approach to be the best way to grow a pipeline of multi-lingual students. At the very least, a foreign language provides a global perspective for students.

The day turned to our case discussion of Locke College. A lively discussion about an institution struggling with enrollment and exploring the validity of their liberal arts curriculum vis a vis the marketplace. The issue came to the forefront as a result of an inquiry from a Trustee. A leadership discussion ensued about the Trustee delegating to a committee, who in turned delegated to a faculty committee to explore the issue about their very own curriculum. Not surprisingly they came to the conclusion, after much deliberation that their curriculum was indeed valid and valuable in the marketplace. As the President receives the report he wonders what to make of the report and what the Trustee may think about the report.  The group was very engaged in the conversation, many thinking this could happen at any of our institutions. Then there is the rest of the story....  Turns out the case was written/crafted in the mid 1990's and described a situation about a real college, describing the Yale Report from 1828.

Finally our discussion turned to teaching for the unknown. The idea that we need to provide information and knowledge which leads to wisdom. Wisdom provides 'flexpertise'. The understanding of a wide range or scope of thoughts and ideas. Further to be able to apply expertise and knowledge in a very specific area to a wide scope of things.

A full day followed by some social conversation Friday evening rounded out an amazing week of learning.