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Education Explanation

Wouldn't the whole thing be rather different with the ubiquity of post 3000 AD tech computers? People can be educated from their homes, free traders can study in off hours aboard ship, what not. The system we have now is based on mass-production lecture hall education. With the change in format, will come a change in its outward symbols, including "degrees".

Doubtful. Most non-liberal arts degrees (Engineering, Medical, Physical Sciences, Psychology, even Anthropology, Archaeology, and aircraft repair) have extensive practical factor components that simply can't be done via distance education due to investment cost in requisite tools. These will still require facilities and equipment, and direct instruction using said equipment, such that the degree system will still be valuable in that it proves completion of a supervised practicum.

One can learn all of the book knowledge a doctor needs online easily. One can't carve up cadavers at home, at least not without bothering the neighbors and investing in a walk in refrigerator.

Likewise, one can't do cyclotron experiments in an apartment complex, due to safety and supervision requirements.

The academic institution is still the best method of providing the regulated access, whether that institution is civilian, government, or military.

Further, the academic environment does a LOT more than just present information to students. It forces students to deal with others in a work environment without clear hierarchies. It exposes students to a variety of individuals with idiosyncratic behaviors, especially if the school serves a diverse baseline population. Plus, a degree proves the ability to navigate an administrative maze of requirements in order to obtain the degree.

The other element is that, unless society does away with social interaction, the college experience is quite different by virtue of being a rite of passage, and a semi-autonomous era of life. The scholastic environment provides valuable inculturation and indoctrination services to the government. (Which is part of why homeschooling is discouraged by nearly every nation and state. By not attending the government school, one avoids the nationalist programming.)
 
I always thought to treat it in a "multiple intelligences" sort of sense. INT is more IQ and analytic prowess, someone who scores well on logic puzzle tests. EDU is about book learning, but specifically the capacity thereto. It's not that your EDU A Barbarian knows anything about starship maintenance, but he is that one in five thousand sort who can just read the "So, you've been suddenly promoted to chief engineer" booklet and actually get something out of it.
 
IMTU the EDU stat most closely represents general knowledge. Sometimes I have my players roll trivia rolls against EDU to know some piece of publicly available background.

EDU is composed of formal (schooling) and non-formal (life experiences and hobbies). When generating a character I look at what the EDU is prior to enlistment (or whatever) and, unless the background suggests otherwise, say that that represents the maximum possible schooling. In the past I think I’ve house-ruled that graduating High School (at grade 12) should mean attaining EDU 6 (every point represents 2 grades). Anything over 6, at that point in the character’s development, represents additional (informal) learning.

But also a low initial SOC can indicate the character didn’t graduate high school ...
  • SOC 0-4 = minimum of 3 points non-formal EDU
  • SOC 5-9 = minimum of 2 points non-formal EDU
  • SOC 10-12 = minimum of 1 point non-formal EDU

Examples:

Enri has SOC 6 and EDU 6. Due to SOC he has a minimum of 2 points non-formal EDU leaving 4 points of formal. He didn’t graduate high school but did get through grade 8.

Arvey has SOC 11 and EDU 9. Due to SOC he has a minimum of 1 pt of non-formal EDU leaving 8 possible of formal. Graduating high school takes 6 ... so actually 3 pts are informal.

Finally, any character who didn’t graduate high school cannot attend college or go to an Academy.



I’m considering a further house-rule that says initial EDU is 2D+1 ... DM -1 if homeworld is ‘Ni’, +1 if homeworld is ‘In’.

And another house-rule that says EDU = 2D + SOC/5.

But I need to play with these numbers and see what they mean.
 
Doubtful. Most non-liberal arts degrees (Engineering, Medical, Physical Sciences, Psychology, even Anthropology, Archaeology, and aircraft repair) have extensive practical factor components that simply can't be done via distance education due to investment cost in requisite tools. These will still require facilities and equipment, and direct instruction using said equipment, such that the degree system will still be valuable in that it proves completion of a supervised practicum.

One can learn all of the book knowledge a doctor needs online easily. One can't carve up cadavers at home, at least not without bothering the neighbors and investing in a walk in refrigerator.

Likewise, one can't do cyclotron experiments in an apartment complex, due to safety and supervision requirements.

I would have to say that with the exception of a cyclotron in an apartment. That today you can learn a good chunk of your non-liberal arts degrees and skills by way of distance learning. In the traveller Universe the list would be even more comprehensive with the use of Holographic projectors, desks and panels through in tactile response you could learn just about anything. The only exceptions I see are those areas of study that involve emotional reactions.
 
A thought occurred to me about the EDU stat;
1. This is a general applied knowledge
2. Skills are the 'degrees' of education (why dose a MD need a Medical-3 if this is not a 'degree' level of learning?)
3. [and if this deserves a new thread so be it:devil:] If EDU is applied general knowledge, then is not JoT an enhancement of the use of the EDU stat and thus an +DM for any EDU stat check?

Yes, I have read several articles on the various uses and non-uses of JoT and just ran this up the flag pole to who salutes.:D
 
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