Are Gen Eds in college useful or just a drag on finishing? (public schools, grades)

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by RPC324

Separate and above the standard composition and literature course. Hofstra had a "cross cultural" course requirement at the time I attended.

Sure, there's value in exploring many topics in college, but anything not major related could probably be condensed into an overview or used as elective credit instead.

What would be the difference between requiring something as a Gen Ed, vs. as an elective? I'm not quite understanding your idea.

[mitsguy2001]

Originally Posted by tnff

When I went through high school I was taught that Dewey was most used by schools and small libraries but Library of Congress was used more be large libraries because it allowed a better breakout into easier to locate sections whereas Dewey could have several stacks all with the same number. Also that more people were familiar with Dewey because it was the one taught in school.

Don't know if those are current; simply what I was taught in high school.

So maybe the divide is large vs small libraries rather than public vs academic. But he was clearly wrong that no library since 1899 (100 years before 1999) used Dewey Decimal system.

[mitsguy2001]

Originally Posted by Archaic

Nonetheless, your professor was wrong. The New York Public Library still uses the DDS, as do some colleges and universities. As I said, recataloging a collection can be expensive, and switching from DDS to LC would be a far more complicated job than just recataloging volumes that fall into several subcategories within the DDS.

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

The academic libraries I know of, including UC Berkeley, still use the DDS.

Originally Posted by rabbit33

Well, the professor in question is invited to visit the Dallas Public Library either the main downtown location or any branch, a large public library with extensive collections, and observe the Dewey system in operation in 2022.

This may be the first time ever in which posters on this forum agreed that a teacher or professor was wrong.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by mitsguy2001

This may be the first time ever in which posters on this forum agreed that a teacher or professor was wrong.

It's not, but you do you.

[rabbit33]

Originally Posted by mitsguy2001

So maybe the divide is large vs small libraries rather than public vs academic. But he was clearly wrong that no library since 1899 (100 years before 1999) used Dewey Decimal system.

All the public libraries I've ever been in, from the very large (Dallas) to the very small (Carlisle, Mass.) in the USA, have used Dewey. The two university libraries I've been in, both large, used Library of Congress.

[mitsguy2001]

Originally Posted by rabbit33

All the public libraries I've ever been in, from the very large (Dallas) to the very small (Carlisle, Mass.) in the USA, have used Dewey. The two university libraries I've been in, both large, used Library of Congress.

That's my observation too. Sounds like my professor was wrong.

[RPC324]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

What would be the difference between requiring something as a Gen Ed, vs. as an elective? I'm not quite understanding your idea.

The idea is that there are certain topics or skills that the university wants every student to cover. Currently, students have to take both Gen eds and electives. Electives are just space fillers. Instead, a university could break down learning objectives that each course fulfills, and simply allow the student to choose the course load that fulfills them.

Some students may be happy taking Algebra 101 and English Composition. Others may want more challenging or topical options that exercise the same skillset.

[TexasLawyer2000]

Originally Posted by RPC324

Some students may be happy taking Algebra 101 and English Composition. Others may want more challenging or topical options that exercise the same skillset.

What would be an example of a class that teaches and tests against Algebra 101 or English Composition?

[YorktownGal]

Originally Posted by TexasLawyer2000

What would be an example of a class that teaches and tests against Algebra 101 or English Composition?

A remedial course? Hopefully!

[tnff]

Originally Posted by TexasLawyer2000

What would be an example of a class that teaches and tests against Algebra 101 or English Composition?

Well Calc and most serious physics or chem courses would test if someone knew algebra for just a couple examples. If they didn't know it, they wouldn't last long.