> Date: Wed, 7 Jun 1995 13:13:48 -0600 (MDT)
> From: Romay Jean Sitze <rositze@nmsu.edu>
>
> Replying to LO1530 --
>
> On Tue, 6 Jun 1995, Dr. Ivan Blanco wrote:
>
> > Yes, students ARE customers. But they are not just customers, like
> > someone who comes into a store and buys a product. The role students play
> > in the relationship with the university is somewhat defined by Joseph
> > Juran ("Juran on Leadership for Quality, Free Press, 1989), where he
> > discusses that most every member of the iorganization plays three
> > different roles, as customers, transformers, and suppliers. Students play
> > these three roles. They are customers because they come for (paying) the
> > opportunity to learn. They are transformers because they are the ones who
> > HAVE TO LEARN. No body else can do that for the students.
>
> I have enjoyed this discussion tremendously. I, too, see the student as
> customer. Might I expand the above reference to students as transformers
> to include the idea that many students also transform the knowledge and
> skills gained by applying insights based upon personal experiences and
> needs, thus frequently actually adding to the body of knowledge as a
> result? <<< Some good stuff deleted here >>>
I would say Yes! That's precisely what many teachers miss in
their daily interaction with students. We understimate students way too
much. When we say that students don't know anything about what they need
to learn, we automatically close our eyes and ears to the important
contribution students can make to the development of class discussion, to
the enrichement of the teacher and peers, etc. It is clear that some
students would contribute things that are of a greater value to us than
others, which looks like real life to me. This is why I call my students
leanrning partners and they must share their how they perceive the
materials discussed in class, as they see them throug the lenses of their
own experiences.
I have made changes in my learning systems as a result of the new
insight provided by the learning partners. Unfortunately, not always I
have the opportunity to make the changes in the same semester where the
insghts are procided.
Ivan,
***************************************************************
R. IVAN BLANCO, Ph.D. Voice 305 899-3515
Assoc. Prof. & Director Fax 305 892-6412
International Business Programs
Andreas School of Business _________E-Mail Addresses________
Barry University Bitnet: Blanco%bu4090@Barryu
Miami Shores, FL 33161-6695 Internet: Blanco@bu4090.barry.edu
<<<<< ---------------- >>>>>
"Las naciones marchan hacia el termino de su grandeza, con
el mismo paso que camina su educacion." "The nations march
toward their greatness at the same pace as their educational
systems evolve." Simon Bolivar
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