The Wheel Goes

Round & Round

The capability is there to re-think what a
classroom means given that technology
can make us all available to each other
synchronously and asynchronously,

but the technology also makes it easier
to do the same old same old, what we
in the business call "shovelware."

You know, throw the same old stuff up
online in place of a printed handout
without stopping to think how you could
use it to create a different kind of
learning community, David Harper

… it is all about how we define what we do.
Either that or just bags of bones moving
through space with only the illusion of
free will… no?

The liberal art vs. instrumental [relationship]:
that the activity, whatever one calls it, is both
its own reward liberally and broadly applicable
instrumentally in the future.

I imagine that no one really disagrees here,
except in how to "market" the college.
I would say this "identity crisis" or
"brand crisis" … probably has much less to
do with how a small liberal arts college faculty
might define a term as broad as "academics"
than how a faculty defines themselves in a
culture in which "academics" is not obviously
ruler of the roost. Ron Bashford

A different kind of learning community.
Our own brand. We’re not for every
one, and maybe you’re not
for every one,
too.

I’m not for every one.

For some, sure.

[elitist—but admitting the equality
of all souls, damaged & damaging:
(it’s the denial & cover-up that
generates our psychic toxic
waste & promulgates the
bozone level, true?.)]

Our not-for-everybody “brand” is
currently based on Work & Service
Requirements. It has nothing to do
with our Academics. which is for
every body, esp. if interested in
environmental concerns—ruler of
the roost & more equal than the rest:
our green & sustainability commitment..

Turning up Undergraduate Research
might sharpen our academic separation
from “for everybody” programs .

How-We-Do academics is maybe
becoming the concern here – as
opposed to the what.

Don’t you think this is a Good &
Beautiful & True fight-club issue?
Wonderful brew ha ha material?
Across the Curriculum Converse-
Action? Doctors with out Borders?

I still think of
"spinning wheels"
of thought and
groupthink confusion
when I think of you.
Hope you are well."

This morning’s post on my Facebook
wall from Jordan Miller —one of our
passed conscientious student leaders
always appropriately agon-ized
by my efforts to encourage
Collaborative Genius..
Not for every one.

“We keep going round & round
in circles, Sam, damnit.”

We shall never cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

Liberal Art for every body, like it or not.

xxxooo, Sam