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The course that is about itself

Submitted by Rob Walker on Mon, 17/03/2008 - 15:38.
Categories: curriculum technology

There is something intriguing about a curriculum that is about itself. In one sense this is always the case in education, because courses about education are always courses in education: there is a circularity between content and process, process and content. I was reminded of this when I read this piece (sent to me by Chris Bigum) which is about a machine that has been designed to do no more than switch itself off.

http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/the_unspeakable.php

Avoiding circularity

Submitted by Dominik Lukes on Mon, 17/03/2008 - 18:18.

Very funny example. But is this just a fun exercise or is there more to it? Is circularity the same as self-reflection or is this some ideal case in a thought experiment?

What happens when it is translated into a lesson plan? I once ran a session on problem-based learning where the problem-based learning was the problem set to the group. By the end of 90 minutes everyone, including me was thoroughly confused. I've heard of similar experiences at Glasgow medical school. When I did that session again, I set a non-educational problem and the results were much more encouraging.

What about initiatives like 'personalised learning' which basically make each curriculum to be at least partly about itself (sort of a meta curriculum).