[hackerspaces] Is making alliances with education institutions good for a hacekrspace?

[Bilal Ghalib]

Hey Florencia!!

What great questions to be asking! I had a really annoying time in school
as well since I learn best by doing, and especially //with// others - not
isolated in testing rooms. So I can see your concern about partnerships
with universities. But I think it's a really exciting opportunity to
influence culture by showing a new way to learn. There is a general concern
that "education" is not working properly in the United States (and abroad)
and there are new tools coming into play that are changing the way people
educate.

We must learn to be tool users, not used by our tools. There is a lot to
figure out and I think open discussions and collaborations with clear
definitions of our objectives can lead to good results.

(in short, why not infiltrate and show em how it's done ;D, they clearly
don't know what's going on or how to educate with the new technological
landscape with new skills needed for the "new economy")

Josh Williams is working on another aspect of hackerspaces confronting more
mainstream educational edifices and is connecting between
allhandsactive.comand Eli from the Ann Arbor public library. I'd love
to add these people to
the conversation. Also if anyone knows any educators who want hackerspaces
to come into school I think this thread can benefit from their input.

Is it ok if we start inviting those people Florencia?
Hugs Josh!

+BG


On Wed, Oct 16, 2013 at 11:29 AM, Randall G. Arnold <
randall.arnold at texrat.net> wrote:

> **
>  Florencia,
>
>  Tarrant Makers is also exploring alliances with local traditional
> educational institutions.  I disagree with the broad contention that "an
> alliance only makes this institutions try to use the hackerspace their
> way".  That may be true in some cases but I don't think it's a given.
>
>  In our case, the first university we approached recognized that they are
> hidebound by many bureaucratic limitations and they welcome our combination
> of expertise and freedom.  Instead of imposing on us, they are asking us to
> act with them in ways that they cannot, and supplement their offerings.
>
>  And so what if they *try* to impose?  If that happened to us we would
> politely refuse and step back, making clear that behavior won't serve
> either of our purposes.  I would think that any institution that wants to
> partner with a makerspace/hackerspace has at least some idea of what's
> involved and expected, and any that tries to force their will has no clue
> and makes a poor partner to say the least.  I would wait for them to get
> their stuff together before trying again.
>
>  Randy
>  Tarrant Makers, founder and director
>
>
> On October 16, 2013 at 12:52 PM Florencia Edwards <floev22 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>  I wanted to ask you what you guys think about this. At our hackerspace
> people who manage it are trying to make some strategic alliances with
> universities, schools, culture centers... But I think it's not good. A
> hackerspace is an alternative to this institutions and methods of
> education. Making an alliance only makes this institutions try to use the
> hackerspace their way (they have more power), trying to preasure us to
> adapt to their methods of education, what their students need, special
> workshops... I don't know. Maybe I'm wrong, . I love everyone to know about
> a makerspace or hackerspace and to come here to explore, but this
> institutions have a way of imposing or forcing things...
>
>  Do any of you have experience with school or collages, are they good? Can
> you give me some advice?
>
>  Cheers all
>
>
>
>
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>
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