Tagg 2004

Why Learn? What we may really be teaching students. by John Tagg

I was really moved by this article. It was beautifully crafted. Just, wow. Refreshing maybe after all the quantitative studies.

Tagg outlines two types of students. The surface-level student focuses on the grade and the deep-level processor focuses on the meaning and development. As much as faculty may prefer the deep thinker, institutionalized practices lend the student to want to focus on making the grade in order to succeed in the class. This is because success in the class translates into success at the institution, thus success in life. One thought this article brought up for me is whose responsibility is it to foster deep thinking? Is it a student's own responsibility to be persistent in finding out how to develop oneself? Is it the professor or the institution's responsibility to change the system in a way that accommodates deeper learning? This is difficult when the university must respond to assessments and rankings, as a sign of their own success in creating a prominent institution. What place is reserved for the development of teaching and learning techniques. Perhaps this needs to be at the forefront of everyday conversation and debate. If this is not a subject that is viable for discussion at a "committee meeting" then perhaps it is better discussed in higher education planning committees and conferences.