Class annotated bibliography

After you find a source that you believe contributes to the conversation about the role of the university, reply to this post by documenting the source in MLA format and then providing one or two paragraphs (not sentences) of explication (summary and connection to the university conversation). Use your handbook and the Diana Hacker link in our "links" section for assistance with documentation.

I have done the first one to give you an example of the kind of the thing that is expected. Do not be intimidated if you are not certain what to do. Uncertainty is necessary for learning. Give it your best shot. This is a one-point homework grade, and if you make a good-faith effort you will get credit.

Richard Florida - The Rise of the Creative Class

Florida, Richard. The Rise of the Creative Class and How It's Transforming Work, Leisure, Community and Everyday Life. New York: Basic Books, 2002.

Florida's book challenges the common assumption that a city's financial and cultural identity is predicated upon physical infrastructure, such as shipping channels, shopping centers, and constructed leisure environments. Florida contends that the base of American employment within the past few decades has shifted from the manipulation of physical items (manufacturing and building) to idea generation and transfer; this is the rise of knowledge workers, or what Florida calls "the creative class." This culture of creativity and ideas, Florida contends, is not fostered through physical construction and improvement, but by inculcating area-wide attitudes of tolerance, curiosity, and technophilia. Florida uses cities such as Austin and Seattle to illustrate the growth of creative spaces and the resultant economic and cultural ramifications.

Florida's work relates to our university conversation in that his concept of the creative class is relatable to Whitehead's juxtaposition of imaginative engagement and knowledge transfer. Whitehead's imaginative education appears to foster the kind of curiosity for ideas that defines Florida's creative class. Also, the cautions of Arronowitz and Readings about specific vocational training in the university dooming students to eventual occupational (and economic) obsolesce is implied in Florida's observation about America's economic base shifting from manufacturing to idea production.

- J. Tirrell
jtirrell@purdue.edu

Research University

Florida, Richard. "Information Technology and the Research University." Issues in Science and Technology . 09 Mar 2006 .

Florida argues that the large shift of today’s University toward research changes it from the main scientific concepts to a more hands on approach. This isn’t a way to financially benefit the local economy, but to simply learn more. The University is often relied on heavily for new improvements in technology and other fields of research. Commercial concerns tend to take precedence over the benefits of an applied education. As necessary as it is to the economic growth of an area, it doesn’t essentially make it right. The government now wants the University to attract the best and brightest students in hope for economic growth from their investments. A talented student is a great asset to the University. This person is now seen as a product of the University’s excellence and therefore attracts more talented students. The collaboration of the University and businesses shifts the purpose of the educating students to merely making money.

-Danielle Pochmara
dpochmar@purdue.edu

Rader, Robert - School Focus

Rader, Robert. "To Meet NCLB, Schools Must Focus Goals, or Break Apart." The Education Digest v. 70 no. 7 (March 2005) p. 25-7

Rader discusses the new roles that the educational system has now taken on. It is no longer a place to learn, it is now the key for "breakfast and lunch programs; health care, including immunization and inoculation; before-and after-school programs; drug and alcohol abuse prevention..." (25) and the list continues. He contends that the focus of education must be redefined in order to keep education working in this world. He brings up the growing pressure on our schools, and how it is detrimental to the entire system. He talks about these new expectaions and their downsides in order to prove that schools need more focus.

Rader is important to our discussion because he brings up a lot of new expectations that have been added in the last few years. These ideas are ones that we have not touched on in class, and may become problems in the near future. He provides many of these new expectations of the school system in order to prove the point that schools roles are changing, and are becoming a much larger force in peoples lives. He also asks weather or not these changes are worth the added pressure on schools.

Richard Florida--The Role of the University: Leveraging Talent,

Florida, Richard . "The Role of the University: Leveraging Talent, Not Technology." Issues in Science and Technology Online. 19 Mar. 2006 .

This article talks about how the university should be focused more on bringing in talented students rather than researching with industries. Florida thinks that the university has lost its way in gaining the necessary students needed to keep the economy running smoothly. He believes that smart people keep the economy strong, and universtiies need to focus more on recruiting such people. Florida touches on how industry and universities have made ties that need to be weakened. He feels that the industries are more concerned with the revenues that are being generated from the research, and he feels that this is taking away from the teaching of knowledge that the universtiy should be concerned with.

I think this article relates to the topics we have been discussing in class because it states how the universities have taken away from teaching knowledge and replaced it with various factors such as skills for the work force and industry related research. Each of the articles we have reviewed, including this one seek for ways to make the university better for today's students and future prospects.

University's role in changing world

Salmon, John. “University’s role in changing world.” The New Zealand Herald 23 Feb. 2006: NEWS; general

Salmon states that today’s universities are competing for the opportunity to educate people so that they can earn fees and the right to influence the society. He says that in the past, universities helped people enter into and provide leadership for the society. But now, the mere transmission of information can’t allow people to fit into the traditions of the society, because societies have become too diverse. Salmon says that because of this, theory and practice have become increasingly reliant on each other and research-based teaching is necessary. He believes that values are a part of research and teaching. He says that societies and its individuals are influenced by research and the university’s research should take everyday social living into account. Salmon expects the university to work towards shaping a society that reflects and engages a changing and complex world. He thinks the role of the university is to stimulate reflection, provoke new thinking, and lead positive changes.

Salmon sees the problems in the current education system. Like the writers of the other articles, Salmon also feels that today’s universities are focusing on making money and training students to be nothing but a small component of the society. One thing that differentiates Salmon from the other writers is that he emphasizes the importance of practical education. He believes that education based on everyday life can truly improve the lives of people.

David Jacobson-Place and Belonging in America

Jacobson, David. Place and Belonging in America. John Hopkins University Press. Nov. 2001.

Jacobson's book sheds insight on several different issues that involve how America is shaped today. He shows it through different areas ranging from immigration to globlization.

This is related to class because Jacobson points out a few points about the role of scholarship in America. He talks about how America is shaped by the teaschings in the classroom. He talks about the interwoven relationship between civic virtue and the classroom. This the same idea that talked about class because it shows the role of the University or education system.

-Dane Brown
browndt@purdue.edu

Richard Florida-The Role of the University:Leveraging Talent

Florida, Richard."The Role of the University:Leveraging Talent, Not Technology" Issues in Science and Technology online. 19 March. 2006

In Florida's article he talks about how universities twenty years ago were utilized to build industrial competition and economical growth, but now it has lead to an over "mechanical nation" and private use of innovations. This general view of the university has restricted the university and given it less bias to the policies of the university. He says that the only way to change this is to become more free from the government policies. He states that a problem of productive competition, which focuses on talent and not technology. One thing that has happen from this is the fact that universities can now have patents and can sell their innovations or ideas to private companies, instead of releasing the information to everyone.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.