Horizontal Learning Vs Vertical Learning

By

Sanjeev Soman K
MBA 2nd Sem
DC School of Management and Technology
Pullikkanam, Vagamon (Kerala)
 

Now a day's professionalism becomes the key word or we can call it as an objective in management education. Management institution trying to produce vigorous managers by inculcating management tactics and methods with in the two years of academic pedagogy. But can we assure professionalism we can't, for that a back ground of a student also plays a pivotal role.

In this context we have to think or debate on the topic i.e. horizontal learning or vertical learning is imperative. Management gurus may argue that both are needed, but as a professional student we must be specific,. first of all I want to clear that what is horizontal and vertical learning methodology after that the options lies to you.

By horizontal learning I meant that it is a process by which a person studies all most all the topic not in a deep manner but in a bird eye view, Is this can be considered as a professional learning, by this type of learning what we are trying to achieve. It may or may not help a person in examination purpose, is this methodology help him in mastering the trick of management let us analyze. This is not only the management education scenario I am talking about. We can analyze this with all other streams of education even it is sociology science related whatever may be

By vertical learning. I mean a process of learning about a particular thing or a group of thing in a deep manner. Not concentrating on totality the vertical learner will concentrate only on few things but in a deep manner, if this will help him or not we can think about that. Take the management education as the paradigm and analyze from the point of view of the manager. What is expected from a management student or what is apt in management education, a shallow knowledge about almost all things or a deep knowledge about a few things. which one will work? As a subject of debate we can argue that both are imperative but the fact is different.

Our present management pedagogy practices the former one that is horizontal learning, if we look at the syllabi we can see that what all are the topics a management students have to cover, students will study it in a shallow manner only for academic purpose is this a professional way. In the present management education scenario we can see that some of the topics in the curriculum are not going to be useful for managers. What will a person will get by lazy reading of something for examination, nothing. Its high time to switch of the traditional learning method what we are following now and switch on to executive mode, I mean executive learning mode. Have the thing that u need, don't waste our time to deal with unnecessary things.

What's the real story that is going on the entrance scenario, now a days students are using entrance guides and seeking the help of coaching centers to crack the exam. What is the real motive behind this entrance exam or what the. authorities meant by this exam? The entrance syllabi are set up with a motive of creaming out the outstanding talents. Before the invention of this crash course culture only persons having deep knowledge can pass the entrance and at the time of exam they are very new to the pattern of questions. they exercise their intellectual skills to fight with question. but what's the present situation, students use guides and crash course to tackle the question and before the examination most of them are all aware about the pattern and most of the Questions are repeating also. This is not the thing expected from the entrance. What is the reason for this? Obviously horizontal learning culture we are following. we can say that coaching centre are the result of this horizontal learning culture . We have to come out from shell of the horizontal learning culture. We need managers with complete knowledge not only in a horizontal way but also in a vertical way.

MEMORY VS SKILL

Another important thing we have to pay our attention is, for what we have to give importance whether to memory or skills. In the present education gamut weight age is going to the former one, is it a fair practice.. An average person is able to hon. the by-hearting ability, but what about the skill, he can't. Why our academic curriculum not trying to measure. the skills of a person,. it's a hot topic for debate, which one can do a better job, memory or skill, is it interdependent? We can relate this topic directly to studying and learning, for studying. we uses our memory power and learning. we uses our skill that's the difference. there may be some doubt in somebody's. mind regarding this i.e. can memory power be called as a skill, yes we can. in that sense it would be interdependent.

We can relate studying vs.. learning to the present education scenario. We used to study our academics syllabi but how many of us try to learn it, a very few. And through the pedagogy what they meant is learning, but situation is 'studying'. What's the reason for this studying mindset; obviously it's because of the horizontal learning methodology injected to the students by our traditional pedagogue. Of course memory power is important but skill can play a better role. Our schools and universities are only giving importance for improving memory power. As relate to the foreign universities which dedicate their time for improving the skills of their students. Its high time to change ourselves to meet the global challenges,vertical learning is a skill and it need practice. At the same time through vertical learning, one can improve his or her skills and memory power. I am advocating for vertical learning not for vertical study. In this precarious business world horizontal methodology or horizontal knowledge can't do anything. Parrot study is not enough, academics has to be set in a way to improve inborn skills and talent. We need a future generation with good skill and learning power.

I am concluding not with many jargons, but with a small practicable word "CHANGE".
 

Sanjeev Soman K
MBA 2nd Sem
DC School of Management and Technology
Pullikkanam, Vagamon (Kerala)
 

Source: E-mail June 22, 2007

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