Content and Competency (General Abilities)

The shift from Knowledge to Competency is a trend in education worldwide. It is no longer about "what you know" (content), but about "what you can do" (Competency).

Education has two functions: content (such as math and science) and training. While the former may not be used in society, the latter is essential. The order of skill acquisition is important.

I believe that humanities subjects help develop theoretical and conceptual thinking, while science subjects focus on science and predetermined correlations. The ability to connect the dots is a skill developed through humanities subjects. Instead of categorizing subjects as humanities or science, I believe they can be divided into Knowledge and Wisdom. This division is not fixed, but changes depending on the learning phase. Starting with Knowledge and then connecting the dots (Wisdom and systematization) is crucial.

Online classes are not inherently bad. It is incorrect to assume that "online classes = bad" based on mixed opinions on platforms like Twitter.

I feel that Knowledge can be learned independently. It is highly systematized, with textbooks and MOOCs available.

On the other hand, Wisdom may not be as systematized. It may be difficult to directly teach concepts and Wisdom, even in an environment rich in implications. There is also a lack of language to express Wisdom (as it is infinite). Minerva University (Minerva at KGI) may be an example of this. Who benefits when knowledge (content) is democratized in education? What becomes the necessary resource?

I think the strongest approach is to have an interest in technical and Knowledge-based science subjects (which can be learned independently) while also taking humanities classes that focus on history, logic, and transferable skills. Can the latter (humanities) provide universally applicable skills?

While considering this, I stopped the mindset of "I want to study CS because it has high market value" and chose a different path.

In terms of education, transferability can be seen as the transfer of general skills. In this regard, Minerva is a good reference.

Chiba University has an interesting definition of Competency:

When the Liberal Arts department was added to Tsukuba University, there was mostly criticism. The reason was the relative evaluation system used to determine advancement. There were cases of students leaving the university due to mistakes in advancement. Related universities include Kyushu University, ICU, Kanazawa University, Hokkaido University, Tokyo University, and Tsukuba University (new). In the United States, liberal arts departments are common, and options like "I want to take the class but don't want grades" exist, as seen in Yale. The cause of failure seems to be the relative evaluation system and setting limits. When creating a liberal arts department based on humanities and science, such failures are likely to occur. People ask, "If the division between humanities and science is nonsense, where should we go?" The answer lies in the discussion of Knowledge and Wisdom. It also involves understanding the mechanisms of Ivy League universities and domestic liberal arts programs. The system used to divide subjects is crucial.

The same concepts apply to online classes. There is Knowledge that can be learned through MOOCs and Wisdom, which is a interpersonal skill. Minerva University (Minerva at KGI) focuses on the latter in their classes. According to a tweet, "If we limit the results to the acquisition of new Knowledge and concepts, face-to-face classes in the classroom are not necessarily superior to on-demand classes. In other words, if face-to-face classes only focus on transmitting Knowledge, their significance may be lost." https://t.co/nNH5kOwRDD - Masahiko Inami, July 18, 2020