Un profesor de EE. UU. aboga por modelos educativos que fomenten la integración de los saberes y la reflexión sobre las grandes cuestiones
U.S. professor calls for educational models that encourage the integration of knowledge and reflection on major issues
Mark Alznauer stated in a seminar of the University of Navarra that the best universities offer programs for the training integral of the students.
Mark Alznauer, professor of department of Philosophy of Northwestern University, explained at the University of Navarra that the best campus of the USA include in their plans of programs of study some model of core curriculum, a set of contents of teaching obligatory and common for all the students, in order to impel the training integral of these.
During the seminar 'Education liberal: the method of the great books', organized by the Institute of Anthropology and Ethics, the expert indicated that these methods have been in place in his country since the 20s of the last century and are still in force in campus such as Harvard, Columbia and Chicago.
The 'great books' method
Among these initiatives, Professor Alznauer highlighted the "great books" initiative, which consists of reading and discussion in small seminars the great works of thought, literature and science.
"The aim is to avoid the risk of the university Education being reduced to specialization in one field of knowledge or to a mere professional qualification. The models of the liberal Education aim at the integration of knowledge and reflection on the major issues of life and society," he emphasised.
Professor Alznauer referred to his own experience as a student at St. John's College and later professor of core curriculum at The University of Chicago. It is worth noting that this expert was recently awarded the scholarship 'Enduring Questions Course Development Grant' from the National Endowment for the Humanities, of the Federal Government, to develop a general Education course for undergraduates.