Experimental College (Macalester)

from the Macalester Public Knowledge Base

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Mission Statement: Here is a a draft vision and mission statement. Feel free to add your own suggestions...

The vision of Macalester's Experimental College is to broaden and expand the definitions of education and learning and to reconstruct the category Ã¢ÂÂstudentÃ¢ÂÂ through increasing points of contact to sites and sources of learning.

Begun by Macalester students in the Spring of 2006, EXCO strives to offer the Macalester and surrounding community the opportunity to teach or learn in a space open to alternative education and all kinds of knowledge, including and beyond academic knowledge. We believe education is a powerful tool for social change, one that can build equality and justice in our community when we value the knowledge of each and every person, particularly those whose voices have been historically marginalized. With privileged access to the resources of Macalester, it is our belief that those resources could be used to benefit a larger number of people through an Experimental College. We oppose oppression in all its forms; social, personal, cultural, ecological, political, and economic; and seek to create an open community of shared learning.

1 Current
2 What Is EXCO?
3 Why EXCO?
- 3.1 History
- 3.2 Today
4 Timeline
5 Skillshare Fair
6 Meeting Agendas and Minutes
7 Community Collaboration Committee
8 Links to Other Experimental Colleges

[edit] Current

EXCO Spring Courses are up! Check out the list at www.EXCOtc.org. Contact David for details at dboehnke@macalester.edu or 651-212-0727.

If you are interested in teaching a course, post your idea on the web at Exco/Fall 06 Classes.

Visit www.excotc.org for more up-to-date information!

[edit] What Is EXCO?

The Experimental College (EXCO) at Macalester College is a project initiated by students at Macalester College. It is informed and inspired by existing free schools and experimental colleges.

[edit] Goals

To expand the definition of education
To increase opportunities for lifelong teaching and learning
To deepen and strengthen MacalesterÃ¢ÂÂs connections with the community
To utilize education as a force to create social equality and justice

[edit] Mission and Vision

EXCO strives to offer the Macalester and surrounding community the opportunity to teach or learn in a space open to alternative education and all kinds of knowledge, including and beyond academic knowledge.

We believe education is a powerful tool for social change, one that can build equality and justice in our community when we value the knowledge of each and every person, particularly those whose voices have been historically marginalized.

[edit] Projects

EXCO classes (two models)
- Oberlin-style classes taught by students, professors, or community members. These courses would potentially be approved for Macalester course credit by an EXCO board.
- Open Independent Studies run by collectives of students and community members with Macalester faculty advisers.

J-Term Courses
- Continue EXCO classes
- Ã¢ÂÂCommon ExperienceÃ¢ÂÂ- first-years and sophomores take classes taught by juniors and seniors.

Open Courses
- Macalester faculty open their classes to a limited number of community members.

Skillshares
- One-time classes taught by someone with unusual expertise in a given area. The first skill share class was an information session on editing and using MPKB, taught by Jesse Mortenson on 12/4/05.

The Experimental College hosted seven semester-long courses in the Fall 06 semester that were free and open to students, staff, faculty and the community. See here for a listing of these courses. Please feel free to request or offer EXCO courses by contacting Miriam at mlarson@macaleter.edu or simply adding a course on the courses page.

[edit] Why EXCO?

[edit] History

Students at many schools across the United States started Experimental Colleges in the 70s as a way to increase self-determination in their education and make content more relevant to real world issues. Oberlin College was one of the schools that started an EXCO in the 70s. Their Experimental College is still running strong today with more than a hundred courses and status as a department.

[edit] Today

There is a renewed need for students and communities to come together and engage issues of education. Legislation such as the No Child Left Behind Act is reducing the efficacy of K-12 education, which affects young peoplesÃ¢ÂÂ opportunities to go to college. Cuts in federal student loans will also reduce access for low-income students to go to college. Institutions of higher education themselves are increasingly expensive, subject to market competition, and removed from the communities in which they are located. While EXCO is not a solution, it is a space to discuss these issues in an open forum and celebrate learning as a community endeavor.

[edit] Timeline

Spring 2006

hold skillshare fair,
build infrastructure for course credit,
build connections with the community,
establish website

Fall 2006

begin offering courses

Spring 2007

numerous courses offered
EXCO skillshare/winter carnival

[edit] Skillshare Fair

The Skillshare Fair was held April 8th, 2006 from 1-5 in front of the Macalester College Campus Center

Free workshops taught by students, faculty and community members all afternoon:
1PM:

What I Learned in Socialist Vietnam (Karin San Juan): A show and tell on my recent trip to Vietnam.
The Great Law of Peace - Past, Present, and Future (Ray Tricomo): A discussion of the Six Nations Confederacy.
The History of New York City (Nick Kahn and Mark Stonehill): How did New York City go from its humble beginnings to the global power it is today?
Bike Maintenance and Repair (MacBike): Bring your bike or work on ours, and if you put in more time you might be able to keep one.
Beginning Lindy Hop Swing Dance (Laney Barhaugh): An introduction to the lindy hop style of swing dance, covering basic footwork and turns.

2PM:

Tending the Flame Within - Harnessing our Power from our Sexuality (Rachael Harlos): WeÃ¢ÂÂll explore ways in which our sexuality and sexual identity can be used to empower rather than repress our personal expression and interaction with others.
Stilt Walking! (Victor Llanque Zonta)
Introduction to Permaculture Design and Gardening (MULCH)

3PM:

Conversation on Race, Class, and Education (Carlos Garcia-Velasco)

4PM:

Theater of the Oppressed Workshop (Eliza Rasheed)
SalsaÃ¢ÂÂAdvanced Combinations and Techniques (Nicole Littell): This workshop will teach several advanced combination moves. For men and women with Salsa experience, experienced males needed!
Irish Dancing (Anna Farrell): A brief introduction to the real Irish jig. Come get jiggy with us!
Photography - Darkroom Basics (Danny Bell): An introduction to darkroom skills for film photography. Aspiring artists can bring in their own film.
Book Arts (Kristen Stoeckeler)

Music + Food from 5:30-7PM!

[edit] Meeting Agendas and Minutes

[edit] Community Collaboration Committee

In order to fulfill our mission of liberating Macalester's resources and making the college a better member of the Twin Cities community, we would like to reach out to the community to better participate in what they are doing and invite them to participate in the EXCO here. The following is a list of orgs to contact or include as learning opportunities:

BAT ANNEX FREE SKOOL-

jane addams - Heidi

activist roundtable - David

GCTM - Miriam

resource center of the americas - Eduardo

la escuelita - Victor

actc schools - education depts and student orgs - Ray and others

neighborhood associations, Mac Groveland Community Council and Small Business Alliance - Miriam

Communiversity - Ray

Kalpulli Turtle Island Multiversity - Ray

MPIRG - Eduardo