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Matt Nish-Lapidus 2025-04-21 15:55:51 -04:00
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Computer Class Essay - Matt.md
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@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ This feels like an apt description of what is currently happening in the world o
Computer Class is an attempt to think about, and live inside of, the possibilities for a more convivial computing past its "second watershed." This idea influenced the structure of the class, the theoretical texts we discuss, and Scott's evolving Ludus programming language, which we use to teach the class. Unlike other computation and programming intensives, Computer Class isn't meant to be "productive" or "useful" in a tech industry sense. Participants don't learn how to write programs that will be useful to the post-second-watershed industrial apparatus, but rather as a way to make histories, concepts, and cultures of computation accessible and material. We want to use computation to think about technology and society, about what it means to be human, not as an end in itself— or, as Illich says, "to recognize means which have turned into ends."[^5] Computer Class is an attempt to think about, and live inside of, the possibilities for a more convivial computing past its "second watershed." This idea influenced the structure of the class, the theoretical texts we discuss, and Scott's evolving Ludus programming language, which we use to teach the class. Unlike other computation and programming intensives, Computer Class isn't meant to be "productive" or "useful" in a tech industry sense. Participants don't learn how to write programs that will be useful to the post-second-watershed industrial apparatus, but rather as a way to make histories, concepts, and cultures of computation accessible and material. We want to use computation to think about technology and society, about what it means to be human, not as an end in itself— or, as Illich says, "to recognize means which have turned into ends."[^5]
Co-leading the first iteration of Computer Class was joyous and deeply affective. It felt like real community building, and the ongoing engagement over the months that followed showed me that this feeling was mutual amongst all the participants. Computer Class is an experience in creating a shared learning environment where everyone is free to be themselves, explore their interests in relation to the material, drive the curriculum, learn in their/our own ways, and rediscover why so many of us fell in love with computers to begin with. For some people it was their first encounter with a computer as more-than-appliance, for others it was a time to reengage with ways of learning and working that are often lost in adulthood and professional life. It was open play within a specific kind of context. Co-leading the first iteration of Computer Class was joyous and deeply affecting. It felt like real community building, and the ongoing engagement over the months that followed showed me that this feeling was mutual amongst all the participants. Computer Class is an experience in creating a shared learning environment where everyone is free to be themselves, explore their interests in relation to the material, drive the curriculum, learn in their/our own ways, and rediscover why so many of us fell in love with computers to begin with. For some people it was their first encounter with a computer as more-than-appliance, for others it was a time to reengage with ways of learning and working that are often lost in adulthood and professional life. It was open play within a specific kind of context.
At the end of the week we have time set aside for reflection and discussion on the week, and what ideas, methods, and anything that we felt we would take with us back into our "normal" lives. Many people talked about demystification of computation, or feeling more empowered to work with computation freely. One of the participants responded that we had "broken the university" for them (paraphrased). Regardless of the technical skill or critical knowledge that filled our week, this is the feedback that stuck with me. This is Illich's call to conviviality—the dismantling of gate-kept professionalization and standardization. If every participant in one of our ongoing Computer Class cohorts leaves feeling like the standard approach to learning and teaching is "broken" then I feel like I've done my job. At the end of the week we have time set aside for reflection and discussion on the week, and what ideas, methods, and anything that we felt we would take with us back into our "normal" lives. Many people talked about demystification of computation, or feeling more empowered to work with computation freely. One of the participants responded that we had "broken the university" for them (paraphrased). Regardless of the technical skill or critical knowledge that filled our week, this is the feedback that stuck with me. This is Illich's call to conviviality—the dismantling of gate-kept professionalization and standardization. If every participant in one of our ongoing Computer Class cohorts leaves feeling like the standard approach to learning and teaching is "broken" then I feel like I've done my job.