Other Ideas for the structure of this course.

Other Ideas for the structure of this course.

After writing my last blog entry I decided to compile a short list of ideas which might improve this course the next time it is taught.


Systems v. Machines
I still think a more carefully differentiation between the term “system” and the concept of a “machine.” And placing more emphasis earlier in the course that they are in fact one and the same in natural occurrence without our help and should be the same in the projects for the course.


One day in class projects
One of the projects that I thought was very successful for the entire class was the one day in class project which we all had different parts of. I think this project might have been a good introduction to generative art for the first day of class. It could have also functioned as an amazing ice breaker.

The other thing that the single day in class project did was forced me to work with people that I was not experienced with working with. I am used to sticking with other Design and Production majors because I know them and know how to work with them. I stayed with my friends to stay in my comfort zone… But in all honesty I have worked with those people constantly for the last two and a half years. It is easy for me to spot paying attention to the prossece while I work with them because I am used to it. I didn’t notice how fascinating it was to work with new people during this project, but during the 3rd project when I participated in the robotics group project. It amazed me how we all brought different useful skills to the table that helped us finally build a beetle robot. Even though people might not be aware of the usefulness of collaborating with new people when it happened in the class I think it was defiantly important and a great opportunity for everyone involved. As most of us at the beginning of the term said were drawn the class to learn about different work processes because we are becoming jaded by the monotonous one’s taught by out professors… This is the perfect opportunity to learn others ways of working from each other.


Perhaps more suggested reading, chaos theory?
I liked the fact that there wasn’t a lot of reading during the entire class, but I think more material about Chaos theory might be interesting and significant to the rest of the material in the course.