Preamble to a Preamble to a General Education Program

 
      “I’m surprised at how open-minded
        I am.”        Epimenides, the Rhino
 
Preamble to a PREAMBLE
 
In these troubled and turbulent times…  In these
days of rapid technological  change…robust anxiety
& fragmented  knowledge…thinking globally & acting
locally….Local Food and Feedback...the worst of
times and the best of times….Don’t postpone joy.
.  
Can I imagine a Gen Ed program as an
emerging phenomena?  Rising-up out of
dynamic inter-active joyful sustained argument,
collegial  cantankerousness and collaborative
genius?.   
 
Keith Sawyer attests to the fact
that an environment that
encourages failure & suspects
clarity is prerequisite to developing
collaborative genius.  A good thing.
 
(as opposed to an environment that
encourages success and salutes clarity:
seemingly prerequisite to individual
genius.  A good thing.)
 
Niels Bohr says the opposite of a profound
truth is another profound truth and if we are
approaching paradox, we must be making progress.
.
And Ray Anderson:  our green
hero  from industry & commerce:
I’ve quoted over and over  as
calling for systematic change in
educating—not just symptomatic
jiggle juggling of the same thing
in different costume.
           
            syllabus (contract)
     * lecture-to-discussion ratios
     * attendance policy
     * reading and writing assignments
         (texts, term & semester papers)
     * quizzes and examination policy
     * deadline policy (late penalties)
     * presentation/poster policies
     * assessment and evaluation policy
     * diagnosed learning disability policy    
.
It takes a pillage to raise a gen  ed
program (not to be collapsed,  conflated,
or confused  with silo disciplines
methodology & subject matter majors,
minors, posters & capstone events )
Don't you agree?
 
Or do we just have to get-R-done
and move on?
That too?

Just asking.
Sam