The importance of tests and self-learning is an interesting topic for discussion. New methods of education are often developed to nullify the weaknesses of current education. For example, “there’s legislation to create a fourth college system – in addition to the community colleges, the California State University and the University of California – with no classes, just tests” (Los Angeles Times par. 3). This means that introduction of this system is extremely likely. Students should be able to learn themselves to obtain a degree.
Many believe that only a certified teacher will be able to prepare students for their future careers. However, there are no trustworthy statistics currently available that could prove such claims. This topic is debatable because self-learning has numerous advantages. It allows students to search for required information without leaving their zone of comfort. It is often criticized, but it should be said that sometimes it provides great results.
In my opinion, it is extremely convenient because they can study at any place at any time, and they are not as restricted by time. Students can take full control of the learning process. The problem is that most students do not trust the current education system, and this legislation should allow students to protect themselves from dangers that may happen in the college environment. However, there are ways in which the trust issue may be solved. Conventional universities should provide a safe environment and excellent learning opportunities for every single student.
There are some issues connected with such colleges. Students do not get to master crucial social skills that cannot be taught at home and could be paramount for their jobs in the future. Also, the knowledge of subjects such as mathematics is often not that high among self-learners because they are hard to understand without external help. Another huge problem is that those who study at home do not get a proper spiritual education. The biggest issue is that it limits social interactions, which are essential for the success of the education process. The current problem of testing is that students simply try to remember correct answers and do not bother to understand them.
Also, such subjects as arts and social studies are not given enough attention. This is a colossal issue because students need to develop their creativity. But they are profoundly limited because subjects that develop critical thinking are not a part of standardized testing. Education officials should review their stance on this issue.
There are huge opportunities available for the education system with the introduction of new technologies and learning techniques. When it comes to education, the information is better perceived by students when it is delivered on the Internet. It has helped to make students more interested in different subjects. The biggest advantage of this college system is that it nullifies any possible social anxiety. Technology allows us to access information much quicker, and it is crucial in this age.
In conclusion, an option to obtain a degree in this way should be available. It will allow students to learn themselves and get a necessary skill of time management. While some argue that tests are not an effective tool to measure knowledge, they are used globally. Nevertheless, technologies are always developing, and ways to fix current issues and limitations of this system can be introduced.
Work Cited
Los Angeles Times. A California Plan for a No Teaching, Just Tests College’. 2013 Web.