Teaching for Competence - Thomas S. Nagel

Teaching for Competence: Helping Students Develop the Skills They Need for Success

In his book, Teaching for Competence, Thomas S. Nagel argues that the goal of education should be to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in life. He defines competence as "the ability to do something well," and he argues that it is more important than knowledge or intelligence.

Nagel identifies three essential components of competence:

1. Knowledge: Students need to have a solid foundation of knowledge in order to be able to apply their skills effectively.
2. Skills: Students need to develop a variety of skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration.
3. Dispositions: Students need to have the right attitudes and dispositions in order to be successful learners. These include things like motivation, perseverance, and a willingness to take risks.

Nagel argues that traditional education often focuses too much on knowledge and not enough on skills and dispositions. He proposes a number of reforms that can be made to improve education, including:

• A focus on active learning: Students should be actively engaged in their learning, rather than simply listening to lectures.
• A focus on real-world problems: Students should be given opportunities to apply their skills to real-world problems.
• A focus on feedback: Students need to receive regular feedback on their work in order to improve.
• A focus on collaboration: Students should be encouraged to collaborate with each other in order to learn from each other.

Nagel believes that these reforms can help students develop the skills they need to be successful in life. He argues that competence is the key to success, and that education should be focused on helping students achieve it.

Why You Should Read Teaching for Competence

Teaching for Competence is a must-read for anyone who is interested in improving education. Nagel provides a clear and concise argument for why competence is important, and he offers a number of practical suggestions for how to improve education. This book is essential reading for teachers, administrators, and parents alike.

How to Purchase Teaching for Competence

Teaching for Competence is available for purchase from a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play. You can also find it in most libraries.