Anna Rubbo wrote:
> In my view this is universities going mad. I am not criticising the writer
> of the email, just amazed. Are there many students under such pressures?
> I'm all for students publishing, all for universities encouraging it-
> mandating it is another story.
>
Old hands on the design internet may well remember the great idforum
blitz of years ago. It contains a salutory lesson.
Idforum is a mail list, operating like PhD-Design, aimed at
professionals and teachers in design, particularly industrial design.
Because it often had interesting and stimulating discussions teachers
recommended their students to take part and perhaps ask their own
questions. So far so good.
Then an unnamed academic at a university, let's call it the University
of Northeast Southwest Australia, had a very bright idea. Why not give
the BA students an assignment that requires them to propose a
stimulating debate to an online forum? Students were told that they must
post a provocative question and then post at least two follow up
questions or contributions. I don't know if any other online forums were
mentioned but it was clear that idforum was the obvious candidate.
The students had several weeks to complete this task but we all know
what students do, in the last week of the assignment idforum was
bombarded with scores of, mostly pointless, questions and follow-up
questions, mostly presented in a peremptory, or just plain rude, style
of address. Total meltdown. It took several weeks for the forum to
recover its equilibrium.
Anna's story implies that we are moving into a world where governments
and institutions are setting out to multiply that effect across the
whole of our infrastructure.
best wishes from Sheffield
Chris
*********************
Professor Chris Rust
Head of Art and Design Research Centre
Sheffield Hallam University, S11 8UZ, UK
+44 114 225 2706
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www.chrisrust.net
Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
future of the human race. - H. G. Wells
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