Comments on: Enough about Edupunk

By: MsMichetti

MsMichetti — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:24:19 +0000

Jabiz, you may have a point, but language is still the basis for all spoken and written communication. (As an aside, our recognition of this value is the reason why schools and organizations like the NCTE strongly support language-across-the-curriculum to be embedded in learning at all levels from pre-K to university.)

And so, I do think that although “post-modern mash-up language” might be ambiguous, we need some kind of clarity for the sake of getting a message across. Without clarity of language, what is left? Answer: Mis-communication, if you ask me.

By: Intrepidteacher

Intrepidteacher — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:55:46 +0000

I guess I am saying that the conversation need not be so semantics based. Edupunk can and will mean different things to different people. That is okay. If it doesn’t work for you leave it alone. Post-modern mash-up language may make this formula denotation + connotation = constructed meaning a bit more ambiguous as well.

By: MsMichetti

MsMichetti — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:20:57 +0000

Thanks Jabiz. I am taking to heart what you’ve said here:

So keep doing it and call it what you like, but try and plaster your work in as many places as possible to it can inspire others and shake up the status quo.

But I have to point out a strange contradiction here:

I see Edupunk as a label for a brand of teaching

and

Don’t put the term in a box.

Yes, language is ambiguous and fluid, but denotation + connotation = constructed meaning. So, what do you mean?

By: Intrepidteacher

Intrepidteacher — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:10:26 +0000

One more thing Tina Turner was the embodiment of Punk. Don’t put the term in a box. Like all words in can mean many things. Language is ambiguous and fluid. Hence the beauty of understanding and connection.

By: Intrepidteacher

Intrepidteacher — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 08:08:36 +0000

I will try and make this short and sweet. I see Edupunk as a label for a brand of teaching that looks to expose the hypocrisy of a corporate run world. I would like to think that we can actually use any and all tools to bring about this exposure. Similar to the idea of culture jamming. The whole Punk ethos, as I see it, is a way to make people uncomfortable with things they are trained to ignore. It is an in your face style of revealing truths of society.

Yes you are right this is good practice. So keep doing it and call it what you like, but try and plaster your work in as many places as possible to it can inspire others and shake up the status quo. That is all Edupunk is. But that is just my opinion and what do I know.