Comments on: Don’t Confuse a Degree with Learning http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/ Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:53:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Scott H. Young’s MIT Challenge « http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-1230750 Scott H. Young’s MIT Challenge « Fri, 23 Dec 2011 23:04:20 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-1230750 [...] Don’t Confuse a Degree with Learning  [...] [...] Don’t Confuse a Degree with Learning  [...]

]]> By: Why Self-Educated Learners Often Come Up Short | nothing to see here http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-384387 Why Self-Educated Learners Often Come Up Short | nothing to see here Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:49:24 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-384387 [...] to pursue self-education. Not because universities are spectacular learning environments (they usually aren’t). Or even because self-education isn’t a worthwhile goal (it’s probably one of the [...] [...] to pursue self-education. Not because universities are spectacular learning environments (they usually aren’t). Or even because self-education isn’t a worthwhile goal (it’s probably one of the [...]

]]> By: Why Self-Educated Learners Often Come Up Short « Scott H Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-383862 Why Self-Educated Learners Often Come Up Short « Scott H Young Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:01:28 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-383862 [...] to pursue self-education. Not because universities are spectacular learning environments (they usually aren’t). Or even because self-education isn’t a worthwhile goal (it’s probably one of the [...] [...] to pursue self-education. Not because universities are spectacular learning environments (they usually aren’t). Or even because self-education isn’t a worthwhile goal (it’s probably one of the [...]

]]> By: Scott H Young » Friday Links http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-348975 Scott H Young » Friday Links Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:00:51 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-348975 [...] Don’t Confuse a Degree with Learning - “I’m worried when people start equating what degree they want with what they want to learn. To me this says that the major motivation in learning for most people comes from reaching some external benchmark. Although this may be a worthy goal, I think it drains away the intrinsic desire to learn.” [...] [...] Don’t Confuse a Degree with Learning – “I’m worried when people start equating what degree they want with what they want to learn. To me this says that the major motivation in learning for most people comes from reaching some external benchmark. Although this may be a worthy goal, I think it drains away the intrinsic desire to learn.” [...]

]]> By: Scott H Young » Friday Links 07-11-30 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-98678 Scott H Young » Friday Links 07-11-30 Fri, 30 Nov 2007 23:23:00 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-98678 [...] at Overcoming Bias. I’ve talked before about the difference between going to school to learn versus just getting a degree. This post explores how it is easy to lose your sight of your actual [...] [...] at Overcoming Bias. I’ve talked before about the difference between going to school to learn versus just getting a degree. This post explores how it is easy to lose your sight of your actual [...]

]]> By: Scott Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-56124 Scott Young Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:31:44 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-56124 Marti, None of my ideas are really new. Then again, I don't suppose anyone really has original ideas, just ones that are evolved from their predecessors. Marti,

None of my ideas are really new. Then again, I don’t suppose anyone really has original ideas, just ones that are evolved from their predecessors.

]]> By: marti http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-54929 marti Thu, 20 Sep 2007 19:40:09 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-54929 Your idea is a good one, and even though it's hardly new, it's very profound. Mark Twain said that he never let his education interfere with his learning. I went to college solely for the purpose of getting a degree. I had already the knowledge of engineering since I was 16, but in today's society if you want to work for someone else, it's necessary to have what my grandfather's neighbour called "That lousy piece of paper which is worth a million $$" I had the skills, but skills won't get you a job. It's a copout to suggest that failure to get a degree because of "focusing only on value-added courses" was your motivation. In the real world of work, you will frequently be called on to do tasks which you don't consider important. This is the case even if you have your own business. Some customers may want you to use an inefficient or costly method to get a job done. They're paying, and if you don't do it their way, they may go elsewhere. What I'm trying to say is that both education and learning serve a purpose. For me, learning is much more important, but education provided me keys I wouldn't have had otherwise. Nowadays, I'm working on alternative and more environmentally sound fuel technology. It's about learning, as I don't have the degree in physics or even certification as a mechanic. I do have determination to learn, and I do have 20+ years mechanical experience. Your idea is a good one, and even though it’s hardly new, it’s very profound. Mark Twain said that he never let his education interfere with his learning.

I went to college solely for the purpose of getting a degree. I had already the knowledge of engineering since I was 16, but in today’s society if you want to work for someone else, it’s necessary to have what my grandfather’s neighbour called “That lousy piece of paper which is worth a million $$” I had the skills, but skills won’t get you a job.

It’s a copout to suggest that failure to get a degree because of “focusing only on value-added courses” was your motivation. In the real world of work, you will frequently be called on to do tasks which you don’t consider important. This is the case even if you have your own business. Some customers may want you to use an inefficient or costly method to get a job done. They’re paying, and if you don’t do it their way, they may go elsewhere.

What I’m trying to say is that both education and learning serve a purpose. For me, learning is much more important, but education provided me keys I wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Nowadays, I’m working on alternative and more environmentally sound fuel technology. It’s about learning, as I don’t have the degree in physics or even certification as a mechanic. I do have determination to learn, and I do have 20+ years mechanical experience.

]]> By: How NOT to Find Yourself » I will change your life . com http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-52354 How NOT to Find Yourself » I will change your life . com Thu, 13 Sep 2007 17:09:59 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-52354 [...] Don’t confuse a degree with learning (see this article from Scott H Young) [...] [...] Don’t confuse a degree with learning (see this article from Scott H Young) [...]

]]> By: Sebastyne R. Young http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-52073 Sebastyne R. Young Wed, 12 Sep 2007 22:45:05 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-52073 I'm laughing at myself, as this is again very close to what I believe... Wanting to learn things have always been my motivation when I've applied for any school. Degree has meant little or nothing to me. Unfortunately, the general value system is completely the opposite. It doesn't matter what you actually know, as long as you have the degree. I failed to receive a degree in web design which I studied for 3 years. I'm willing to bet though, that I know as much or more than say... 60% of the people who did get the degree. Ironically the reason why I failed to do the degree was that I was too busy learning. I refused to waste my time on courses that were nothing but fluff adding to the required hours of studying instead of adding valuable information to the degree. So, after finishing 75% of the studies, I realized there was nothing left for me and left the school. Will be frowned upon, but what can you do... I’m laughing at myself, as this is again very close to what I believe… Wanting to learn things have always been my motivation when I’ve applied for any school. Degree has meant little or nothing to me. Unfortunately, the general value system is completely the opposite. It doesn’t matter what you actually know, as long as you have the degree. I failed to receive a degree in web design which I studied for 3 years. I’m willing to bet though, that I know as much or more than say… 60% of the people who did get the degree. Ironically the reason why I failed to do the degree was that I was too busy learning. I refused to waste my time on courses that were nothing but fluff adding to the required hours of studying instead of adding valuable information to the degree. So, after finishing 75% of the studies, I realized there was nothing left for me and left the school. Will be frowned upon, but what can you do…

]]> By: Dan Sage http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/comment-page-1/#comment-51721 Dan Sage Tue, 11 Sep 2007 21:29:43 +0000 http://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2007/09/05/dont-confuse-a-degree-with-learning/#comment-51721 Richard Light in "Making the Most of College", referred to this difference as surface versus deep learning. He said that we can choose either one when presented with information that we will have to process. Sometimes surface learning is not only acceptable, but commendable, when it frees time for deep learning in other areas. Richard Light in “Making the Most of College”, referred to this difference as surface versus deep learning. He said that we can choose either one when presented with information that we will have to process. Sometimes surface learning is not only acceptable, but commendable, when it frees time for deep learning in other areas.

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