This is a meandering reflection upon the ideas we churned in the cauldron that bubbled away 15 years ago. It was a different Australia. Though the people were equally gorgeous. What of things that we set in motion? That can be a treasure hunt for you.
The Learner Centered Project received a university award in 2005. One and a Half years after commencement. It went on till 2007. The current project My First 6 Months (LINK) carries much of the dna of what is these days referred to as progressive pedagogy. My short hand, method, avoids these changing fashions in names for this kind of work. Thats it. It is just method focussed. Not content focussed.
Quote: From the Award submission text.
The Learner Centered Project (LCP)
The LCP is primarily concerned with bringing about change in the way the community of Industrial Design students and staff think about education, university life and each other. The staff within the program are committed to continually improve their pedagogic practices. Other programs in the school have also expressed a desire to try some of the innovations of the LCP.
Some of the changes brought about by the LCP to the Industrial Design program have been explicit; for example, the walls of the building have been painted red or learning contracts have been introduced to courses as a teaching strategy. Other outcomes have been implicit; for example, changes in staff attitude to their academic roles or positive responses from the program team to students articulating issues of concern. In their entirety, the complete range and depth of shifts has contributed to an overall sense of the learning environment of the program being remarkably different to what it used to be.
Approval of the changes experienced in the community is made obvious in the conversations, emails and attitudes expressed formally and informally amongst students and staff as they learn, study and work together. Satisfaction with these changes is also expressed in the increased amount of student activity and energy that is now present in the program building.
Anecdotal feedback from students certainly indicates an awareness and appreciation of the changes that enable them to have:
“full creative freedom” “a relaxed environment”
“a fun and approachable atmosphere”
“the ability to go where we want within the program” and to
“learn and experience a whole new level of design”
Since the LCP has been introduced, students sense a positive change in the dynamic of the Industrial Design community and are supportive of this shift, as indicated in the following student comment:
“I cant’ wait to see where we go and what we achieve as a group and as individuals”.
Full text: https://rawslearn.wordpress.com/2021/10/30/the-learner-centered-project-2003-2007/
Acknowledgements:
Barbara de la Harpe: I was only meeting you for a coffee as part of my induction. You heard something in what I was saying. You supported me. So you were the awesomest. Thank you.
Helen McLean: You carried the whole project on your shoulders. We just came along for the ride.
John Milton: You held the whole community - all students and staff - in the meeting.
Liam Fennessy: You were our 'activism' focussed agent.
