@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@ The course is organized into five (5) two-week modules: *Introduction*, *Autocom
## Community of learners
This course is more than concepts and learning objectives. We are a community of learners defined by how we conduct ourselves, how we communicate with each other, and how we care about each other. We believe everyone can succeed and grow as a whole human being together in this course. But to realize this vision, we'll need to work together to act compassionately and treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves: to think first of others, their benefit, their well-being, and their learning. We are only as good as we are to each other.
This course is more than concepts and learning objectives. We are a community of learners defined by how we conduct ourselves, how we communicate with each other, and how we care about each other. We believe everyone can succeed and grow as a whole human being together in this course. But to realize this vision, we'll need to work together to act compassionately and treat all others not how we wish to be treated ourselves, but how they wish to be treated---to think first of others, their benefit, their well-being, and their learning. We are only as good as we are to each other.
In western tradition, learning is for individual gain to help *you* achieve your goals. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if the only reason we bother to learn things is to help ourselves, then why should we bother collaborating with others? If deliberate practice concerns**how learning works**, we should also consider the more fundamental question: **why learn at all?**[^2]
In western worldview, learning is for individual gain to help you achieve your goals. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but if the only reason we learn things is to help ourselves, then why collaborate with others? Why help anyone but yourself? If deliberate practice asked about**how learning works**, we should also consider the more fundamental question: **why learn at all?**[^2]
[^2]:Jess Cleeves. 2020. [Can Learning be Fair?: Explicit Acknowledgment of Structural Oppression as a Teaching Tool](https://youtu.be/MnRZcPeEAv0?t=1833).
...
...
@@ -69,9 +69,7 @@ Cartesian Dualism
: Learning for individual gain
: **Measures** intelligence against a single norm
In the real world, it's hard to say if an answer is right or wrong. It's only when we define the problem in a certain way that we limit our thinking to certain kinds of answers. An answer is only ever wrong because the question was designed to accept only a single---oftentimes predetermined---answer. We recognize the **values contradiction** in this approach that views learning as the reproduction of certain forms of valuable knowledge.
Not all traditions regard learning for individual gain. Inlak'esh is a Mayan culture that regards learning for collective benefit.
In the western worldview, whether you learn alone or learn collaboratively makes no difference. Knowledge is viewed as neutral and disconnected from when, where, or how you learned it. Knowledge is about investing into your future and no on else's. But not all traditions understand learning toward individual gain. Inlak'esh is a Mayan culture that understands learning toward collective benefit.
Inlak'esh
: I am you and you are me
...
...
@@ -80,7 +78,11 @@ Inlak'esh
: Learning for collective benefit
: **Values** multiple ways of knowing
Science and engineering knowledge alone can't answer many of the most challenging questions of our time. Collaboration is not just desirable but rather necessary to improve society. Therefore, learning can't just be about individual gain. Learning must also be about connecting and better understanding each other to help everyone grow. The following specific actions and behaviors we pledge to do in order to encourage compassion toward each other in this class.
In the real world, it's hard to say if an answer is right or wrong because the way we define the problem limits our thinking to certain answers. An answer is only ever truly wrong because the question was designed to accept only a single---often predetermined, often exclusionary, and often destructive---answer. We recognize the **values contradiction** in this approach that views learning as the reproduction of western ways of knowing. Western science and engineering knowledge alone can't answer many of the most challenging questions of our time. In fact, western science and engineering has caused or exacerbated many of today's social problems.
So how do we move forward? I believe that learning can't just be about individual gain, that collaboration is not just desirable but necessary to learning, that learning on your own is very different from learning with each other. Learning must also be about connecting and better understanding each other to help everyone grow. When you look around you, who you see are the people who will be shaping the future that we all share. It is all of our responsibility to contribute to each others' growth.
Change and growth starts with acknowleding ourselves as a compassionate community of learners. The following specific actions and behaviors we pledge to do in order to encourage compassion toward each other in this class.
- Listen with intention to understand first and forming an opinion only after you fully understand.
- Take responsibility for the intended and unintended effects of your words and actions on others.
