(Un)classes - community powered learning
10th August 09
Posted in crowdsourcing, culture
We just stumbled across (Un)classes (thanks to Julius Solaris | @tojulius).
A potentially strong application of collaborative intelligence . . . with a twist.
(Un)classes starts with the premise that everyone has something to teach, and much to learn. But, pragmatically, few of us are going to sign into formal programs. Casual learning (as they frame this form of education) is aimed squarely at people who lead hectic lives but still want to satisfy their intellectual curiosity.
(Un)classes is thus in effect a marketplace for matching interests with passion, simply connecting people who’d otherwise have few ways of directly collaborating in this way. It’s deliberately informal, with few rules and none of the stuffiness that could surround what is in effect a ‘learning’ service.
(We’re also reminded of the campaign BBH New York helped create for one of BBH’s clients, NYC & Co, around using one’s skills, passions, and willingness to help address some of NYC’s most important issues: What’s Your Blank?)
The depth of the (Un)classes offering seems quite shallow at the moment, but as people sign up, and choice and quality deepen, it will be interesting to see whether the idea takes off. We wish them luck.
More details at: http://www.unclasses.org/about
2 comments on “(Un)classes - community powered learning”
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Ben Malbon
Hey Ben,
Thank you for both your interest and the thoughtful writeup. We’d love to get more classes going in NYC - you should post a class you want to take or lead here and help start the movement:)
The What’s Your Blank project is very cool - would love to hear more about how the project is going, lessons learned, etc if you’re willing to share.
Best,
Rahmin
Hello Rahmin
My name is Chris Wollen I work with Ben and run the NYC account. The Blank campaign is off to a strong start but still early… we will have a much better read in the Fall. I will work w Ben to publish our results and topline learning.
The key for The Blank campaign and the updated NYCService program is 1. awareness 2. ease of participation/volunteering. PR and promotion has played a significant role in driving awareness but having so many varied organizations in one place on the new site is a huge step forward vs having to know what you are looking for and having to search for it.