intentionally designed to support the Fully
Active Learning pedagogy; and in the real world, where students apply their knowledge in community and professional settings. Being able to thrive in a global and multicultural environment is at the heart of a Minerva education, and is intentionally designed in its teaching: whether through the seven global cities that Minerva University students live in, or through other global experiences that its partner institutions design.
How Minerva Assesses Success
The quiz and exam scores that form the basis of so many traditional course grades represent student ability at one moment. Students cram for these high-stakes assessments and soon forget much of what they memorized. Even when they aren't forgotten, memories formed this way are likely to be compartmentalized. Given that the Minerva education methodology does not rely on rote or memory, but rather the
depth and applicability of learned concepts, students are continuously assessed on explicit learning outcomes. Faculty assess all their verbal and written contributions throughout their education, and give them meaningful feedback for them to improve. Most importantly, students are assessed on how they can transport concepts across different disciplines which is the best measure of the learning, integration and application of knowledge.
Conclusion
There is little doubt that Minerva succeeds with college bound students of exceptional ability; and, there is increasing evidence, generated through its Minerva Baccalaureate, aimed at
college-bound high school students, that
Minerva can prepare students who are not
perceived by others to be college-ready for college. But what about students who have already entered college unprepared? Might the Minerva Project’s approach and platform
actually inform and accelerate the learning of those students, by closing the gap between their existing skill set and the skills required to succeed in higher education?
A person would think it could. The approach and platform are, after all, about using technology and data to guide students in the acquisition of certain skills that facilitate learning and success across multiple disciplines. In much the same way as the Minerva Baccalaureate aims to prepare students who are not perceived by others to be ready for college, it might prove a useful approach to take aim at first (even second) year college students – whether in attendance at a community college or more traditional college or university – who might need some help in readying themselves for higher level courses.
In this way, three goals might be accomplished at the same time: 1) students will be better prepared to succeed, whether coming out of high school or community college, or moving into higher level college courses; 2) colleges and universities, by creating pathways of guaranteed acceptance for graduates of Minerva designed courses, find means for increasing their enrollments at a time of downward national trends; and, 3) Minerva sees greater opportunities for realizing its influence at scale. Naturally, only data will convince traditional institutions to think in such ways: but, there again, Minerva is capable of producing such data through pilot programs or other means.
Though not their traditional business model or part of their current strategic plan, rumors are such opportunities are being explored. And why not? For a company built from the premise that higher education needed to be disrupted, what a challenge that would be and what a shakeup that would cause.
You can learn more about Minerva by visiting:
https://www.minervaproject.com/
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