THE
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
PHILADELPHIA
Hi everyone,
Here is Tonight's Skype chat backchannel transcript -- This is only 1/2 (probably a lot less) of the conversation… the other part was the spoken discussion, which was recorded and will be online soon.
About the chat - I'm pretty excited about the direction of the TPS classes in Grenoble and the forward movement / ongoing active critical exploration component of the project in general! Including the idea of kids being involved - especially after learning how this was a key part of Vidéogazette in the 70s.
Also… It would be really excellent to get that french archival footage translated into English - if anyone's interested in helping with that?
Chat backlog (only what was written, not an audio transcription) below…
Scott
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[5/8/12 3:39:17 PM] BASEKAMP team added stephen wright, thiago demello bueno to this conversation
I made this into a comment before I read the directions which explicitly said that if I found a video, I should post it in a note.
here it is:
As part of The Whole World is Watching ...
This course would explore the phenomenon of Swarm Intelligence through a series of "events" designed to look at how groups solve problems or evolve. Rather than starting with the goal to organize something, this course would examine how groups organize using natural/artificial models of swarm communication and "thinking." The following promises to be nothing more than a series of suggestions, and is up for complete revision.
The "events" might take two forms, possibly executed in stages.
1) Planned Situational Learning (in a closed setting)
2) Spontaneous Public Interventions
This course will take a close look at the Peter Principle (see book listing here), which is described as "a belief that in an organization where promotion is based on achievement, success, and merit, that organization's members will eventually be promoted beyond their level of ability" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Principle). This reading and series of gatherings could be helpful in considering alternative management/organizational structures and additionally look at open source communities and flat organizations.
Also here is an interesting article:
Random promotion may be best, research suggests
This course would look at the various organizational tools that are used to mobilize and fuel the Occupy Movement. The toolkit could include the following sections in addition to others:
• communication tools, (GA and language, intra and inter-communication within Occupy movement)
• the organization of spaces and building of community
• tech/media tools (hacktivism, development, social media)
• tools for creative production and expression (uses of signage, performance, art)
This course should additionally look at how organizations and businesses that have both embraced and co-opted these tools:
This project is in part an exhibition on Vidéogazette and in part a look at paralell contemporary practices that employ technology and seek experimental, non-hierarchical approaches to creative and cultural production. The Philly Public School has been invited to launch a series of class proposals with accompanied posters (with the inclusion of other Public Schools) which will eventually culminate into a class or series of classes. A group will gather virtually on IRC during Tuesday evenings this month to generate material The Whole World is Watching. Deadline for this would be the first week in May. See scheduled dates and comments for detail on how to get involved.
Content:
The aim of this course would be to create a space in which children can help to radically reimagine the current world we live in. What is a young person's vision for a truly transformative world?
Additionally a series of questions regarding world issues could be asked exploring subjects such as food distribution, debt, industy and employment, interstellar space travel, climate change, renewable energy and war and peace. Some initial collaborative research could be useful in finding the most successful ways to ask open ended queestions which would help to spark imaginative thinking.
Logisitics / Format:
The workshop could exist as a collaboration between 6-12 year olds in the kids mediation workshops at Le Magasin and a decentralized group of children and parents tuned into SKype. This could take place one afternoon for 1-2 hours, in June 2012.