Design Computation Pedagogy
February 10th, 2011 by Will Patera topics:critique, curriculum, discussion, forum, pedagogy, python, rhinoscript, teaching
February 11, 2011: The DCG Forum will be holding an open discussion on the topic of Design Computation Pedagogy. DCG members will introduce recent pedagogical projects to establish a framework for discussion and critique of contemporary design and computation pedagogies.
This is a sample comment. What were the motivations of the students in this class? Anything beyond skill building?
Notes from the discussion and questions for further debate (please add to the questions or feel free to reply):
1. Questions about authorship and access to knowledge were raised relative to the field of design versus scientific disciplines. Does using open source software as pedagogical environment/tool suggest or require attribution and further sharing of knowledge?
2. What is the perceived identity of a DC researcher? (“problem solver” v. “problem setter”) How do technologies shape professional and academic identities? How do individuals shape technologies and academic/professional fields?
3. What theoretical and critical positions are currently being established within the DCG? (Paradigm?)
4. What is the history of the DCG and its academic position within the department? What are the relationships between current and past research agendas within the DCG? (How does this topic inform/affect question 3?)
Regarding the authorship topic: I’m not convinced that we should take cues about secrecy and authorship from engineering/science. at least not as long as there’s any kind of artistic thread to what we do. if one of our goals is dissemination why not use the radiohead strategy. I’ll happily have (even a few intellectually dishonest) imitators in exchange for limitless distribution. Plus, this is academia. We’re not getting paid anyway.
then maybe we should think of creative commons licensing? –> http://creativecommons.org/
We should look into this. Good idea. There are many good options for CC licensing. Also Carl has implemented a “password protected” area, so if anything is indeed internal, then it could be kept internal.
@ Carl: Also on the topic of radiohead and authorship — the house of cards video http://code.google.com/creative/radiohead/