Edupunk’s not dead

So the research starts.

For the last 6 or 7 months I have been collecting my thoughts about the whole Edupunk concept.

Edupunk (2008-2011) is an approach to teaching and learning practices that result from a do it yourself (D.I.Y) attitude. The New York Times defines it as “an approach to teaching that avoids mainstream tools like PowerPoint and Blackboard, and instead aims to bring the rebellious attitude and D.I.Y. ethos of ’70s bands like The Clash to the classroom.”  Many instructional applications can be described as DIY education or Edupunk. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edupunk)

The term was coined by Jim Groom who distanced himself from the ‘movement’ in a heart felt blog post titled “Dear Edupunk“. The parallel between this and the punk movement of the 70′s is uncanny. In the late 70′s the main band (in the UK) was The Sex Pistols. A manufactured band who played with aggression which they channeled into the unsuspecting youth. The band split in 1979 and there were cries on “Punk is dead”.

The truth of the matter is that this was only the beginning. After the winter of discontent, unemployed youths formed bands and played for free at small local halls. Rather than sign to major record labels they formed their own. Rather than take any profit, they put the money back in to promote a new band giving them the chance.  The bands further connected with the troubled youth of the time by singing about real life issues such as Unemployment, Nuclear War and Political Unrest making them more aware and together they stood up and said ‘No’.

There was an honesty about punk which was refreshing. By ‘being a punk’ it was more than listening to the music, it was a way of life, it was an attitude. Even at the rife old age of 44 I still hold the values I had as a punk, in fact, as a middle aged (respectable?) guy, I AM STILL a Punk.

I remember in 1984 during the Miners Strike that there was a gig at The Hayfield Centre in Kirkcaldy.

It was a pokey little place. There were 15 bands playing and it was FREE to get in, all you had to do was bring a food donation for the miners. The place was so small that the bands were mingling with us and talking about the music and their thoughts, looking back it was quite surreal.

So back to Edupunk. In the Dear Edupunk post, Jim discusses the Edupreneur, people who make money from education and quite rightly so, this goes against the whole idea of punk. Sure, money was made by punk bands and promoters but it was frowned upon when the big record labels or promoters tried to jump on the band wagon. The whole punk ideal was to help each other without personal gain or profit… so are YOU an Edupunk? For me, as an educator in 2011 I NEED TO BE. My employer can not afford to pay £20k on specialist software licenses every three or four years, especially where there are free alternatives. My employer can not afford to send all staff on training courses costing thousands of pounds, especially when there are cloud communities with people at hand to advise  and point us in the direction of a good tutorial.

Call it what you will, the Edupunk movement is very much alive and it will continue to grow as long as there are people willing to help, share and collaborate. For many it will be a tough journey because as with the Punk movement of the 70′s and 80′s there will be an element trying to cash in while others will back off and fight against it which will be brought on partly with fear of change but more of ignorance.

Further info:

UK/DK  – A story about punks and skinheads (skip through the music and listen to the views of some of the bands)