The following represents the second of a three-part guest entry to my blog by Michael Staton who works with Batiq – a “social entrepreneurship company that is dedicated to revolutionizing education and creating more purposeful uses for technology.” In simpler terms, Batiq preps students for college.
Staton interviewed students at Stanford and UC Berkeley. Students were asked to describe behaviors of a successful college student. Then all behaviors were grouped and assigned an attribute name. According to these focus groups, nine attributes, overall, describe a successful college student. Attributes are listed in the order from their perceived commonness -- from the most common to the least. Attributes seem to build on each other and become more difficult to obtain requiring more wisdom and skill as the list progresses. The attributes are listed as: Inquisitive, Adaptive, Self-Motivated, Insightful, Passionate, Committed, Creative, Professional, and Synergetic.
Those that are insightful take learning beyond what is presented to them and find novel perspectives or solutions. They enjoy thinking critically and do not accept a single source, no matter how important or authoritative. They have thought through the opportunities available to them and know which ones they would like to take and why. Unique opinions and alternative visions excite them, and they often think them up. Strategizing and initiating a unique project assures their contribution to their involvements.
Passionate people can inspire others by articulating and arguing their commitments. They know how to affirm the commitment of others. Without regard for companionship or reward, they will initiate and inspire, often with great risk. When others are unenthusiastic, they can be an example of steadfast energy. Passionate people are out to make a difference.
If passion gets things started, it is staying committed that truly leads to accomplishment. Committed individuals persevere despite setbacks and failure, sometimes repeatedly. They stick with activities and hobbies for the long term, and maintain membership in organizations as others come and go. The mastery of a skill is a common determinant of commitment, and truly committed individuals can often perform in one or two areas at a near professional level. They have often sacrificed large amounts of free time to develop themselves and their experience. Committed individuals inquire, find passion, and then provide the follow through that it takes to truly excel.
Creative students are not afraid to try new things. They create original works of art or scholarship. They solve problems that others have failed at solving by approaching it from a new perspective. They have come up with creative solutions for organizations by thinking outside of the box. Being creative is not limited to arts and scholarship; it is also approaching life with a unique vision for themselves, for organizations and institutions, as well as for the future.

Labels: Successful College Student

The following is the first of a three-part guest entry to my blog by Michael Staton who works with Batiq – a “social entrepreneurship company that is dedicated to revolutionizing education and creating more purposeful uses for technology.” In simpler terms, Batiq preps students for college.

Staton interviewed students at Stanford and UC Berkeley. Students were asked to describe behaviors of a successful college student. Then all behaviors were grouped and assigned an attribute name. According to these focus groups, nine attributes, overall, describe a successful college student. Attributes are listed in the order from their perceived commonness -- from the most common to the least. Attributes seem to build on each other and become more difficult to obtain requiring more wisdom and skill as the list progresses. The attributes are listed as: Inquisitive, Adaptive, Self-Motivated, Insightful, Passionate, Committed, Creative, Professional, and Synergetic.

A student that will succeed at college is inquisitive. In class and outside of class, they often think of questions and are not afraid to ask them. They often spend time researching topics of interest. Testing a variety of activities and career options has been a mainstay of their experience. They have identified people around them that know more than they do, and have developed mentorships with them. They have inquired into other cultures and locations, and developed a keen awareness for the value of others and their heritage.

Adaptive students can adjust to changing expectations and environments. They are perceptive to evolving norms, among social groups and institutions. They live up to their responsibilities, in school and employment. They enjoy travel and can adapt to new surroundings and those of different cultures. They find their personal weaknesses and learn how to overcome them. Challenging situations do not set them back significantly, as they rise to the occasion.
Self-motivated individuals have found their inspiration intrinsically. They have seen a higher purpose to their behavior and persevere without help through multiple obstacles. Where they are involved, they have actively sought out responsibilities and initiated projects or activities. Volunteering is something they do commonly. Imposing higher standards on themselves, they do not wait for their environments to set higher expectations – they go out of their way constantly challenge themselves in their coursework and in life.

Labels: Succeed at College, Successful College Student

Career Education is getting attention as a way to better prepare community college students in secondary school. But the concepts and definitions of carrer education are unclear. Moreover, high school programs do not link to post secondary curriculum in many cases.

The disjuncture also has a deleterious effect on career education college completion. Career pathways, so vital to a volatile information-based economy, suffer from a lack of direction and commitment to career and technical education. Control is frequently diffused between and among institutions in both K-12 and higher education. Higher education generally is uninterested in vocational education issues with relatively little prestige. The secondary schools, for their part, are preoccupied with traditional academics and pressures to increase test scores in the current high-stakes assessment environment. Without coordinated policy, vocational/technical education will continue to float between K-12 and postsecondary levels, largely ignored except for turf battles between the sectors over which level should get most federal and state vocational categorical funds.

ConnectEd is a good website to find good concepts and designs for career education that provides both vocational skills and solid college preparation.

Labels: College Completion, College Readiness, College Success