October 26, 2013

Limited Learning on College Campuses

College tuitions are soaring, forcing students and their parents to take on huge debts. Yet surveys and tests show students don’t learn all that much at college. Then, we explore the fascinating physics behind a car crash, and why cheating the speed limit could cost you your life.

Episode Segments:

InfoTrak: Academically Adrift Dr. Richard Arum, author of Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses believes that the nation’s higher-education system is effectively broken. His study of thousands of students found that while many leave college with degrees, a large percentage of them show little to no improvement in critical thinking or complex reasoning skills. He explained the reasons behind this disturbing trend and how it could be corrected.
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InfoTrak: The Physics of a Car Crash Michael Pravica. PhD, Assistant Professor of Physics at the University of Nevada discussed the role of physics in the understanding and investigation of car crashes. He talked about some of the most common misconceptions about speed. He also explained why he thinks that drivers should have an understanding of basic physics in order to drive more safely.
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InfoTrak: Kids & Sports Injuries J. Todd Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., orthopaedic surgeon at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was the lead investigator of a study that found that sports-related knee injuries in children increased more than 400% over the past 12 years. He explained which sports are the most dangerous, and what types of injuries are most common. He also offered advice to parents and student athletes on how to prevent knee injuries.
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