DIY or Die: Why We Need to Teach Students Practical Skills

To the Editor:

Thank you for Scott Carlson's thought-provoking essay ("The Future of American Colleges May Lie, Literally, in Students' Hands," The Chronicle Review, February 10). Mr. Carlson is spot on in his observations: Meeting today's challenges requires both abstract and practical skills. Hands-on learning can be a powerful tool as students build those skills. For liberal-arts colleges, integrating