
Realizing General Education: Reconsidering Conceptions and Renewing Practice
AEHE Volume 42, Number 2
Cynthia A. Wells(Author)
Jossey-Bass (Publisher)
Published on 23. September 2016
Book
Paperback/Softback
112 pages
978-1-119-24465-3 (ISBN)
Description
General education is widely touted as an enduring distinctive of higher education, but what do we actually mean by general education? Differing perspectives not only make it challenging to consider its significance, but also open it up to a wide range of determinations regarding its effectiveness.
This volume aims to sharpen understanding of the complex picture of general education by:
describing how various conceptions of general education evolved historically,
identifying various functions expected of general education in the contemporary context, and
pointing out the educational practices that fulfill general education's aims in the current context.
The conceptions of, and aspirations for, general education are consequential. This volume disentangles the divergent conceptions that hinder its renewal and considers the range of avenues for realizing its effectiveness.
This is the second issue of the 42nd volume of the Jossey-Bass series ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education issue, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.
This volume aims to sharpen understanding of the complex picture of general education by:
describing how various conceptions of general education evolved historically,
identifying various functions expected of general education in the contemporary context, and
pointing out the educational practices that fulfill general education's aims in the current context.
The conceptions of, and aspirations for, general education are consequential. This volume disentangles the divergent conceptions that hinder its renewal and considers the range of avenues for realizing its effectiveness.
This is the second issue of the 42nd volume of the Jossey-Bass series ASHE Higher Education Report. Each monograph is the definitive analysis of a tough higher education issue, based on thorough research of pertinent literature and institutional experiences. Topics are identified by a national survey. Noted practitioners and scholars are then commissioned to write the reports, with experts providing critical reviews of each manuscript before publication.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
John Wiley & Sons Inc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 8 mm
Weight
159 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-119-24465-3 (9781119244653)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Cynthia A. Wells
Realizing General Education
Reconsidering Conceptions and Renewing Practice: AEHE Volume 42, Number 2
E-Book
12/2015
Standards Information Network
€22.99
Available for download

Cynthia A. Wells
Realizing General Education
Reconsidering Conceptions and Renewing Practice: AEHE Volume 42, Number 2
E-Book
12/2015
Standards Information Network
€22.99
Available for download
Person
Cynthia A. Wells is associate professor of higher education and Director of the Ernest L. Boyer Center at Messiah College.
Content
Executive Summary vi
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
The Contextual Significance of General Education in Higher Education 1
General Education's Interconnection With Higher Education's Purpose 1
General Education and the Current Context 4
General Education: Many Meanings, Multiple Functions 6
Purpose and Organization of Monograph 9
History Matters: Tracing the Development of General Education 12
Foundations (1636-1783) 13
Additions and Tensions (1784-1869) 16
Industrialization and Mediation (1870-1939) 21
Rapid Growth and New Expectations (1940-1976) 24
Overgrowth and Struggle (1977-2005) 27
Historical Reflections and Insights 30
Contemporary Perspectives and Models 33
Inherited Functions 33
Models of General Education 39
Contemporary Insights 50
Effective General Education in the Current Context 51
Characteristics of Good Practice on the Whole 51
Innovations in General Education 55
Effective General Education Course Design 58
Effective Practices to Support and Sustain General Education 60
Institutional Assessment and General Education 63
Sustaining and Renewing General Education 67
Closing Reflections and Recommendations 68
General Education: A Term of Endurance 69
Recommendations 70
Notes 73
References 75
Name Index 86
Subject Index 89
About the Author 92
Foreword xi
Acknowledgments xiii
The Contextual Significance of General Education in Higher Education 1
General Education's Interconnection With Higher Education's Purpose 1
General Education and the Current Context 4
General Education: Many Meanings, Multiple Functions 6
Purpose and Organization of Monograph 9
History Matters: Tracing the Development of General Education 12
Foundations (1636-1783) 13
Additions and Tensions (1784-1869) 16
Industrialization and Mediation (1870-1939) 21
Rapid Growth and New Expectations (1940-1976) 24
Overgrowth and Struggle (1977-2005) 27
Historical Reflections and Insights 30
Contemporary Perspectives and Models 33
Inherited Functions 33
Models of General Education 39
Contemporary Insights 50
Effective General Education in the Current Context 51
Characteristics of Good Practice on the Whole 51
Innovations in General Education 55
Effective General Education Course Design 58
Effective Practices to Support and Sustain General Education 60
Institutional Assessment and General Education 63
Sustaining and Renewing General Education 67
Closing Reflections and Recommendations 68
General Education: A Term of Endurance 69
Recommendations 70
Notes 73
References 75
Name Index 86
Subject Index 89
About the Author 92