- Library Home /
- Search Collections /
- Open Collections /
- Browse Collections /
- UBC Faculty Research and Publications /
- WICS: A Model for College and University Admissions
Open Collections
UBC Faculty Research and Publications
WICS: A Model for College and University Admissions Gabora, Liane; Sternberg, Robert; Bonney, Christina
Abstract
This article outlines shortcomings of currently-used university admissions tests, and discusses ways in which they could potentially be improved, summarizing two projects designed to enhance college and university admissions. The projects were inspired by the augmented theory of successful intelligence, which postulates that intelligence comprises creative skills in generating novel ideas, analytical skills in discerning whether they are good ideas, practical skills in implementing the ideas and persuading others of their worth, and wisdom-based skills in ensuring that one uses one’s knowledge and abilities in the service of a common good. In the Rainbow Project, it was possible to substantially increase prediction of first-year university academic performance and simultaneously reduce ethnic-group differences on a predictive test, relative to a standardized test used for admissions in the United States. In the Kaleidoscope Project, students admitted for expanded skills performed as well as other students, without the ethnic-group differences typically obtained in such measures. Enhanced prediction of active-citizenship and leadership activities is also demonstrated through these measures. Both projects show that it is possible to apply the theory of successful intelligence in ways that enhance the college and university admissions process. Limitations of the projects are discussed.
Item Metadata
| Title |
WICS: A Model for College and University Admissions
|
| Creator | |
| Publisher |
Taylor & Francis
|
| Date Issued |
2012
|
| Description |
This article outlines shortcomings of currently-used university admissions tests, and
discusses ways in which they could potentially be improved, summarizing two projects
designed to enhance college and university admissions. The projects were inspired by the
augmented theory of successful intelligence, which postulates that intelligence comprises
creative skills in generating novel ideas, analytical skills in discerning whether they are
good ideas, practical skills in implementing the ideas and persuading others of their
worth, and wisdom-based skills in ensuring that one uses one’s knowledge and abilities in
the service of a common good. In the Rainbow Project, it was possible to substantially
increase prediction of first-year university academic performance and simultaneously
reduce ethnic-group differences on a predictive test, relative to a standardized test used
for admissions in the United States. In the Kaleidoscope Project, students admitted for
expanded skills performed as well as other students, without the ethnic-group differences
typically obtained in such measures. Enhanced prediction of active-citizenship and
leadership activities is also demonstrated through these measures. Both projects show that
it is possible to apply the theory of successful intelligence in ways that enhance the
college and university admissions process. Limitations of the projects are discussed.
|
| Genre | |
| Type | |
| Language |
eng
|
| Date Available |
2018-03-07
|
| Provider |
Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
|
| Rights |
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
|
| DOI |
10.14288/1.0364155
|
| URI | |
| Affiliation | |
| Citation |
Sternberg, R., Bonney, C. R., Gabora, L., & Merrifield, M. (2012). WICS: A model for college and university admissions. Educational Psychologist, 47(1), 30-41. [pdf]
|
| Peer Review Status |
Reviewed
|
| Scholarly Level |
Faculty
|
| Rights URI | |
| Aggregated Source Repository |
DSpace
|
Item Media
Item Citations and Data
Rights
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International