An extremely important breakthrough in education May 8, 2011
Thanks Mark for sharing this information and introducing the work and ideas of Diego Rivera. From my impressions of the email below and folllowing the link I like this. I think we probably have overlap regarding education-philosophy related to LearningByDoing, project-based-learning, reflective practioner approach etc.
I illustrate this with the snippet below from Dadamacadamy–dream or reality–an action research project
My dream for the Dadamacadamy is that it will become a centre for research and learning. This is already starting to happen in a small way.
The Dadamacadamy will not provide taught courses. It will (snip) provide an environment for practice based learning and reflection.
People who have shared concerns will cluster together in the Dadamacadamy to consider what they're doing, and to share what they are learning. The Dadamacadamy will enable peer-based learning of the highest order - driven, not by a desire for accreditation, but by passionate concerns and the need to know. (more at http://www.dadamac.net/blog/20110423/dadamacadamy-dream-or-reality-action-research-project and Don't share an idea - show a prototype http://www.dadamac.net/blog/20110411/dont-share-idea-show-prototype)
I welcome connections with other people and projects working along similar lines.
Pamela
Hello All,This is a link to an audio interview that pretends to look back to today from the year 2020, focused on education in community colleges. The interviewee is Diego Rivera, whom I met driving over from Santa Cruz to the Educational Object Economy salons with Nancy Glock-Greuneich of Higher EDge.
Diego has a very powerful perspective. He challenges the kids who are expected to fail, to instead succeed brilliantly, and they do! Of course, he pioneered a revolution in the curriculum to do it, and he was one of those kids, and he went to Harvard and became an HP Fellow, so he knew he could ignore the 'received wisdom' of this society -- and beat it all hollow!
By the way, you know all these vindictive campaigns to cut ethnic studies around the US? Diego uses ethnic studies to challenge the students to take on something they care about -- the very real oppression that they struggle under -- and trains them as organizers -- exactly what the folks in Arizona are trying to destroy. But those folks don't understand that if you have a true mozaic, everyone benefits, including the white boys they want to be in charge! They just won't be in charge of a class system; they may be in charge of something worth while, though.
Diego's students learn all the skills of professional management in the context of learning to fight for their rights! They can go on to start businesses, become computer technologists, lead political struggles, restore natural habitats, even become teachers and professors.
We can follow their example, and develop important businesses and NGOs. and help transform today's organizations by doing so.
Regards,
Mark