Course Metaphors

Courses as conversations – this metaphor was first brought to my attention several years ago by a VCU professor, Deb Cowles. Inspired by The Cluetrain Manifesto (Rick Levine, Christopher Locke, Doc Searls, and David Weinberger, 1999) where markets are conversations. I did not pause to ask her more or stop to think much about it then.

Recently, I tried to pick up a book I started a few years back and the author (Petersen, 2005) talked about how his book is a conversation because

conversation implies a back-and-forthness, several voices engaged in considering, exploring, discussing, and enjoying not only the subject matter but also one another’s company.

Often, this is how I would envision a course; a vibrant group of learners interacting and chatting with one another, going beyond questions about assignments. Sadly, this does not happen in most courses I create. Most learners are goal-directed (which is not a bad thing) and in the formal education system where so much emphasis is placed on one’s GPA or about earning credentials, this metaphor does not have the breath of life.

If we see a course as improv jazz, as windows/lens to the world or a course as a baking reality show – how would they unfold? What other metaphors can we use for courses? I sketched out my thoughts below.