Author Paul Boyer cites Elon's active, engaged style of learning in a new book titled "College Rankings Exposed: The Art of Getting a Quality Education in the 21st Century." Details…
Boyer suggests prospective students and parents reduce their dependence on college rankings and instead focus on indicators of quality defined by his father, the late Dr. Ernest L. Boyer, former president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Boyer defines the five criteria of a quality education as the following:
- A commitment to general education from the freshman year to the senior year.
- A commitment to writing, speaking, and critical-thinking skills for all students in all classes.
- A commitment to active learning.
- Opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom.
- A diverse, intellectually active, and respectful community.
Elon is included in the book section on opportunities to extend learning beyond the classroom. Boyer says schools such as Elon “allow students to discover knowledge and apply what they have learned in ways that cannot be duplicated in any traditional classroom.” He notes Elon’s strong emphasis on internships and study abroad as examples of this style of learning.
Boyer is president of Boyer Associates, a consulting, writing and strategic planning company that serves colleges, universities and foundations.
The book is published by Peterson’s, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc.