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The knowledge cycle is like concentric circles.  The outermost circle is the
general populist.  Moving one level down in the cycle is where the seminars,
conventions, and certification hours are located.  These are finely tuned
applications—reality checks--of the objectives, papers, and readings of the
next inner circle: the Bachelor of Arts degree.  Departments of education,
sciences, humanities, etc. are developed as education is split into a
plethora of fields.  The “rules” of operating within the specific
departments generate specific strategies and some application of very broad
theory. Moving down in one more level provides a deeper insight as to why
activities generated in the bachelor-level ring are valid.  In the masters’
level, a deeper exposure to theory is presented.  Many more journal articles
are evaluated as the development of theory is much quicker than the
book-mill can keep current.  Journal articles explore theoretical concepts
which represent the current thinking of the day.  Practical applications of
this theory are taught via a viable masters’ program.  Academics become the
foundation on which the bachelors’ degrees, with conventions, conferences,
and seminars are based.


 Practical application of the theoretical explorations the masters’ level
moves the learner into the next concentric circle.  It is at the core, the
PhD level,  where the new theories are generated.  The PhD-core is the
birthplace of the theories which effervesce upward through the academic
concentric circles.  New knowledge generated by the other concentric circles
percolate down to the PhD from which new theory is developed.  The new
theorems and axioms are moved up to the surface of the circles via the
masters’ and bachelors’ programs.  Professions created at the bachelor’s
level are the filters through which the academic knowledge passes and
transmogrifies into practical uses for the general populist.  Without the
theoretical core of the PhD—ultimately the birthplace of new information—our
society would come to a standstill stagnating at the status quo.  Never
moving upward to bigger and better ways to accomplish specific tasks and
goals; new challenges and issues would remain unaddressed as our society
generates them.  A theory based educational system would solve or recommend
a myriad of possible solutions spinning off of the theoretical core of new
knowledge.  Accepting that this is a huge generalization of this complex
process, I submit this entry based on the teachings of one of my own
“effervescents”:   Dr. Roger Greer.



Jay Gamble, PhD student

Northcentral University

Prescott Valley, AZ