Dear Schoolforge Members and Associates,
It's time to cook up a project we believe in and want to work on together. Here's a philosophical angle we need to know about and consider where we think the most effective place to stand is in this argument. It may be spoken by and for a limited percentage of humanity, but they are vocal and influential at the moment: http://www.resilientcommunities.com/should-you-get-an-education-or-a-degree/
For discussion: There has been something of a consensus that our goal (at least part of it) should be to produce teacher-training materials. Does "resilient education" change what we might mean by teacher-training? We are schoolforge, but these people see schools in a somewhat negative light. Still, in most places, for most people, schools serve as the primary means by which people become aware of the possibilities available in life, so schools are not going to go extinct yet.
My own comment: Interestingly, these people don't mention, and I'm not sure they are aware of, how they are standing on the shoulders of the free and open source movement. I suppose that we can be true to our roots and modern at the same time by following the free and open source way:
* Scatch an itch: People need to be made aware of good free/open source materials and tools AND given a relatively painless means of learning to use them.
* Users are developers: Engage teachers and students as co-developers. That's us for starters, but we need to build in an open door and invitation to others.
* Release early and often.
* Make what we produce available in the most free and open ways we can dream up.
Your comments?
What do you think?
Best wishes,
David
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