Experience has taught us that one of the most interesting common denominators about smart, accomplished people – is that they love to keep learning. And yet a companion common denominator of such people is that they (i.e. we) are the least likely to have free time to exercise their intellectual curiosity…
That’s why our curiosity was piqued by (un)classes.org
The concept here is “educational snacking” – enabling busy people who do not have the time or the necessity for formal, long-form education to delve into a topic for an afternoon that strikes their fancy. What gets taught, and where, is community driven – unclasses.orgis essentially a marketplace for connecting those who want to learn something with those in their area who want to teach it. The actual (un)classes can be whatever anyone wants them to be. One or more individuals in a given area simply suggest things they want to learn, others join, and someone volunteers to teach. Alternatively if you have something you want to teach, you can start the process by proposing it.
The creators of (un)classes had a vision for an informal, creative roster of offerings that would be deliberately lightweight, fun, and somewhat unconventional. Perusing current (un)class listings across several cities, that would seem to be the case. Topics in different cities include ‘How to Create The Greatest Rock Song of All Time‘, ‘Sushi Making 101,’ “Beginner French,’ ‘Game Theory’and ‘Overcoming Procrastination’ (though no one has gotten around to signing up for that one yet).
Mind you, (un)classes is in large part still more concept than reality; several of cities listed have no active classes, and even the larger cities have just a few. However, as its idea is to be powered by community, maybe some of the next classes that are taken, or taught, will come from you…
Add Your Comment