I want to take a moment now that the semester is over to thank all of my co-editors of this blog this semester. I was very impressed with the level of discussion and with the way you all engaged material that was very difficult, but also very important. The level of discussion and debate was both sophisticated and respectful.
One of the things that struck me this semester was the degree to which the feminist critique of patriarchal society has wide ranging possibilities for the substantive transformation of education.
We talked in the class a bit about how the blog format contributes to opening a new possibility for education in courses like this one, but now that the course is over and the grades are submitted, I wonder if anyone has more insights about how the blog might be used to cultivate more actively engaged students.
I was struck by a few comments and posts in which students expressed a sort of frustration with having to try to think about what to post given that we did not have specific assignments.
My hope was that by leaving the precise content of the blog assignment open, I would be able to cultivate a heightened attention to the world around you in which you would be constantly thinking about what you were experiencing as something you might blog about for the class. I recognize that this might have been frustrating, but the posts and comments related to TV shows, posters on campus, documentaries, disturbing fringe movements, etc., added substantively to the discussion online and in-class.
I would be interested in to hear if this heightened attention to your everyday experience has in any way carried over beyond the end of the semester? Have you found yourself thinking: this would be a good blog post for PHIL298H? If you have, please, don't hesitate to post it here. I look forward to continuing our discussion.
Leave a comment