About Academe
Academe was a 12 month project I initiated in 2012 to design and undertake my own year-long study programme for under £1000.
To do this I made use of everything around me (such as books on my own bookshelf or local events) and other resources (e.g. my networks, online resources and events).
Please find more information about the programme below.
To do this I made use of everything around me (such as books on my own bookshelf or local events) and other resources (e.g. my networks, online resources and events).
Please find more information about the programme below.
Final 12 month review of Academe
11 Mindset tips for your own Academe
Academe - 3 key learnings at 4 months, April 2013
A few months ago I embarked on a journey: to design and undertake a personalised 12 month curriculum for under £1,000.
Since then I’ve been experimenting with new behaviours, trying out new ways of learning and spent time absorbing, questioning and reflecting. I’m around 1/4 of the way through: here’s the 3 key things I’ve learnt so far:
1. It’s not about curating a curriculum. It’s about curating a way of learning for life.
It sounds so obvious, but this is my biggest discovery. Learning is often linked with a formal education system, where institutions provide you with a framework, and discipline you if you don’t stick to it. Outside of formal education most people learn naturally in their day-to-day lives, but designing and undertaking a personalised curriculum is hard work. I’m exploring how I learn best and trying to form new habits to shift my behaviours towards a long-term learning lifestyle.
2. Academe is an exercise in motivation.
It’s easier not to study, especially after a hard week at work and when there are no *official* deadlines. There have been natural ebbs and flows to my journey, and sometimes life just gets in the way. I’ve let myself have downtime, but I’ve also punctuated my journey with things that will motivate me - such as meeting with a mentor to help me get and keep in flow.
3. Digital is an enabler, as well as a provider.
Digital has been critical, but not in the way I’d expected. I originally thought that most of my curriculum would include tapping into free Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs). However, I’ve mainly used digital to build and tap into a wide network of like-minded people. Digital has facilitated offline meet-ups too: I’ve met some of my neighbours - who’ve lent me tools and offered their skills. I’ve discovered the beauty in the serendipitous connections that are facilitated through viral channels and I’ve made some new friends. Digital has helped me gain feedback and acted as a filter to keep me updated on new trends and publications in the learning space.
Since then I’ve been experimenting with new behaviours, trying out new ways of learning and spent time absorbing, questioning and reflecting. I’m around 1/4 of the way through: here’s the 3 key things I’ve learnt so far:
1. It’s not about curating a curriculum. It’s about curating a way of learning for life.
It sounds so obvious, but this is my biggest discovery. Learning is often linked with a formal education system, where institutions provide you with a framework, and discipline you if you don’t stick to it. Outside of formal education most people learn naturally in their day-to-day lives, but designing and undertaking a personalised curriculum is hard work. I’m exploring how I learn best and trying to form new habits to shift my behaviours towards a long-term learning lifestyle.
2. Academe is an exercise in motivation.
It’s easier not to study, especially after a hard week at work and when there are no *official* deadlines. There have been natural ebbs and flows to my journey, and sometimes life just gets in the way. I’ve let myself have downtime, but I’ve also punctuated my journey with things that will motivate me - such as meeting with a mentor to help me get and keep in flow.
3. Digital is an enabler, as well as a provider.
Digital has been critical, but not in the way I’d expected. I originally thought that most of my curriculum would include tapping into free Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs). However, I’ve mainly used digital to build and tap into a wide network of like-minded people. Digital has facilitated offline meet-ups too: I’ve met some of my neighbours - who’ve lent me tools and offered their skills. I’ve discovered the beauty in the serendipitous connections that are facilitated through viral channels and I’ve made some new friends. Digital has helped me gain feedback and acted as a filter to keep me updated on new trends and publications in the learning space.
Initial learnings, January 2013
In the November issue of the Carrier I talked about spending the next 12 months designing and undertaking my own curriculum using resources both offline and online, for under £1,000. The project is called Academe.
Since first writing about Academe I’ve:
So far, Academe is exciting me for three reasons:
1. I’m enjoying exploring, creating and learning.
I’m curious to see where my own learning journey is taking me.
2. The serendipitous element of the project itself.
Where could it lead to? A toolkit? A book? A service? Or will it simply remain a personal project that takes me off in directions I hadn’t considered before...
3. The timing is right.
Massive Online Open Courses (commonly referred to as MOOCs) are exploding into the marketplace every day and demand for them is growing globally: on my Gamification course alone there were 81,000 students from over 150 countries! MOOCs provide higher education to people regardless of location, time and money, enabling them to learn from wherever they are: on the bus, in the field, at home, as long as they have a good internet connection and suitable hardware. MOOCs democratise education on a global scale in a way never experienced before.
Still, the question that remains for me is about how to make best use of these online resources? Taken individually, these courses are great for learning about, or testing out a new subject, skill or knowledge area. Personally though, the courses hold more value for me as part of wider learning activities through a framework such as the one I’m developing through Academe.
Since first writing about Academe I’ve:
- Created an identity and set-up the Academe Facebook page.
- Completed an 8 week online course on Gamification (https:// www.coursera.org/course/ gamification) - if you’re interested in gamifying services and products I’d fully recommend it!
- Chatted about the project with a range of people, some of whom are interested in testing out the Academe model
- Set up a template for recording all my activities, learnings and costs
- Applied to undertake a range of courses and attend interesting events over the coming months
- Gained an understanding of the disruptive changes and innovations happening in the field of online education at the moment.
So far, Academe is exciting me for three reasons:
1. I’m enjoying exploring, creating and learning.
I’m curious to see where my own learning journey is taking me.
2. The serendipitous element of the project itself.
Where could it lead to? A toolkit? A book? A service? Or will it simply remain a personal project that takes me off in directions I hadn’t considered before...
3. The timing is right.
Massive Online Open Courses (commonly referred to as MOOCs) are exploding into the marketplace every day and demand for them is growing globally: on my Gamification course alone there were 81,000 students from over 150 countries! MOOCs provide higher education to people regardless of location, time and money, enabling them to learn from wherever they are: on the bus, in the field, at home, as long as they have a good internet connection and suitable hardware. MOOCs democratise education on a global scale in a way never experienced before.
Still, the question that remains for me is about how to make best use of these online resources? Taken individually, these courses are great for learning about, or testing out a new subject, skill or knowledge area. Personally though, the courses hold more value for me as part of wider learning activities through a framework such as the one I’m developing through Academe.
Curating my own curriculum, December 2012
Over the last month I’ve been busy designing a personalised, self-directed learning programme, which I am undertaking over the next year. Originally I’d been considering formal education courses, including an MA, but I couldn’t find any that appealed to me enough to invest around 30k and up to 2 years of my life. I’ve always learnt better by doing, albeit within a framework, so curating my own curriculum feels like the perfect solution.
My programme is making use of books and other media, events, self-directed projects and practical sessions, discussions with friends, colleagues and mentors as well as free online courses and resources and anything else I feel will be beneficial along the way.
To do this, I’ve given myself a budget of £1,000.
When designing the curriculum I’ve taken inspiration from the frameworks used in the Bauhaus and art colleges.
This approach is enabling me to explore a diverse range of areas, before focusing on one or two in more detail. Although I am taking a flexible approach ultimately the programme will inspire a self-directed project and/ or thought-pieces or articles.
I am focusing on 3 core learning areas:
1. Academic thinking
2. Industry-led activities
3. Creative experimentation
Over the last month I’ve already undertaken my first module on the programme which involves asking questions including:
My programme is making use of books and other media, events, self-directed projects and practical sessions, discussions with friends, colleagues and mentors as well as free online courses and resources and anything else I feel will be beneficial along the way.
To do this, I’ve given myself a budget of £1,000.
When designing the curriculum I’ve taken inspiration from the frameworks used in the Bauhaus and art colleges.
This approach is enabling me to explore a diverse range of areas, before focusing on one or two in more detail. Although I am taking a flexible approach ultimately the programme will inspire a self-directed project and/ or thought-pieces or articles.
I am focusing on 3 core learning areas:
1. Academic thinking
2. Industry-led activities
3. Creative experimentation
Over the last month I’ve already undertaken my first module on the programme which involves asking questions including:
- What I enjoy doing?
- What do I want to learn more about now?
- What skills would I like to develop over the next year?