Higher Expectations: Can Colleges Teach Students What They Need to Know in the 21st Century?

In his book, Derek Bok explores how colleges can create a more robust undergraduate curriculum for the twenty-first century by capitalizing on the discoveries of cognitive psychology that show that many qualities continue to change through early adulthood and beyond. He identifies the hurdles to institutional change and proposes sensible reforms to help educators cultivate these qualities in students and enable them to lead successful, productive, and meaningful lives.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 17 May 2022
Publisher: Princeton University Press

In recent years, cognitive psychologists have shed new light on human development, presenting colleges with exciting opportunities to assist students in acquiring skills and qualities that will enrich their lives and contribute to society. In his groundbreaking book, Derek Bok delves into how colleges can harness the benefits of these discoveries and develop a more robust undergraduate curriculum for the twenty-first century.

Prior to this century, most psychologists believed that creativity, empathy, resilience, conscientiousness, and most personality traits were largely fixed by early childhood. However, recent research has revealed that these qualities continue to change throughout early adulthood and often well beyond. This groundbreaking discovery suggests that educators have the potential to do much more than previously thought to teach students how to develop these essential characteristics and enable them to thrive in later life.

Educators must be adequately prepared to cultivate these qualities of mind and behavior. What knowledge and skills do they need to capitalize on these opportunities? Will college faculties embrace these possibilities and make the necessary changes to their curricula and teaching methods? What steps can be taken to expedite the process of innovation and application?

In answering these critical questions, Bok identifies the obstacles to institutional change, proposes practical reforms, and showcases how colleges can empower students to lead more successful, productive, and meaningful lives.

Weight: 376g
Dimension: 156 x 233 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691206615