Test Finds College Graduates Lack Skills for White-Collar Jobs
is an article in The Wall Street Journal detailing the results of the Collegiate Learning Assessment Plus.

It found that, among other things, “Four in 10 U.S. college students graduate without the complex reasoning skills to manage white-collar work.” In addition the article highlighted an upcoming report that found similar concerns among employers:

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Yes, yes, I know that standardized tests have limitations, and that we shouldn’t just look at the purpose of schooling only for gaining employable skills.

However, I’ve found this kind of data very helpful when talking with students about transfer of learning (see The Best Resources For Learning About The Concept Of “Transfer” — Help Me Find More), especially when we’re working on ideas like Bloom’s Taxonomy.

I also think this info is useful when discussing school reform issues — I’m not convinced that the push on standardized teaching outcomes supports the development of these kinds of skills.

I’m adding this post to The Best Info On Skills Employers Are Looking For In Job-Seekers, and it’s also applicable to topics covered in The Best Resources For Identifying Qualities Needed In Order To Be “Successful.”