(Image:MANYSTUFF, MOSCOW – PARALLEL SCHOOL)
I’ve written at various points over the past year about the tremendously exciting parallel school, (a student-led augmented educational experience), as it has shadowed my own emerging interest in the field of alternative education. There are a couple of issues that i think are important about this;
The initiative starts small, and uses social network tools to connect with likeminded communities, but is built on the dedication and energy of a small group.
In line with the ‘open community’ myth of the net, it still appears to be dealing with a core demographic of similar people, though they may come from different countries and cultures, and be geographically dispersed.
It is aligned to a traditional educational institution but is not bound by it.
In itself and its existence, it is a political act, and directly questions the creeping commercialism of education.
Most of its work appears to currently be self-referential, (about the act of ‘design’ and the process of education), and it will be interesting to see if it moves into other areas.
It is fantastic that at a time when most art colleges are going through the business-as-usual degree shows, groups of students are self-organising in this way.
More resources on alt/self/parallel/future education, knowledge (and related areas) here – (sorry for the sloppy formatting):
facultyofinvisibility.tinka.cc
story.asp?storyCode=94208§ioncode=26
TheFreeUniversityProjectGlasgow1987-199
resourcecategory.html?resource=Academic_Programs
fiuwac_statement_-_www_fiuwac_.html
londonfreeschool.wordpress.com
filmstudiesforfree.blogspot.com
index.php?cat=2&subCat=docdetail&&id=206
systems-learning-final-event-oct-6-2009-london-rca
ankur.society.for.alternatives.in.education
Publications | Institute of Network Cultures
some more links: (updated 4.11.10)
colab_a_laboratory_for_collaboration_and_serious_play_by_shoham_arad__16513.asp
new-media-cultural-studies-and-critical-theory-after-postmodernism
artschoolalternatives.tumblr.com
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