NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
ERIC Number: EJ1195096
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0024-1822
EISSN: N/A
Becoming a "Bilingual" Advocate for Your Discipline and Your Graduates
McInerney, Daniel J.
Liberal Education, v104 n3 Sum 2018
Educators who recognize the need to clarify their programs' goals have focused much effort over the past decade on learning outcome statements that summarize complex academic ideas in succinct terms. But have the projects gone far enough? While faculty have worked to demystify disciplines and programs, the words they use still come across as insider's lingo. The good faith effort to make academe's implicit assumptions explicit may still be indecipherable to many other audiences. Considering the concerns students (and parents) hold about career prospects, a good starting point would be to reframe the story with an eye toward potential employers. The aim is not to turn away from educators' intellectual principles or academic integrity--or to turn higher education into vocational training. The exercise is one of translation, searching for ways to describe the varied proficiencies and talents of graduates in terms that resonate with those in position to hire, while also helping students craft more persuasive narratives of their educational experiences. This article argues that to bridge the divide between academe and employment, educators must become bilingual advocates for liberal education. By building a "bridge" language that conveys the knowledge and abilities of college learners to the general public, educators can become more effective advocates for their graduates and their profession.
Association of American Colleges and Universities. 1818 R Street NW, Washington, DC 20009. Tel: 800-297-3775; Tel: 202-387-3760; Fax: 202-265-9532; e-mail: pub_desk@aacu.org; Web site: http://www.aacu.org/publications/index.cfm
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative; Opinion Papers
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A