Alien ecosystems pedagogy

I just found an educational project which reminded me of an idea I once wanted to implement earlier in my career.  Sf author David Brin cocreated the Exorarium, a museum variant where participants help create alien life forms.  It's a first contact pedagogy.

Back at Centenary College, I dreamed up a first-year seminar along related lines, emphasizing interdisciplinary thinking and learning.  The goal: for small groups to collaboratively create an alien world.   Each week a different faculty member would teach from their speciality.  For example, as astronomer would teach planetary formation during the first two classes, and each group would build a world.  Next week, a biologist would introduce biomes; each group would then add life to their worlds.  The following week a geologist leads the groups to construct weather systems and spatial diversity.  Sociology: the creation of societies.  And so on.  Ultimately a writing instructor would lead each group in sharing their world with the rest of the class (and campus).

Comments

[Steve B]

Another related antecendent you're probably familiar with is the Medea: Harlan's World collaborative worldbuilding seminar Ellison taught at UCLA in 1975 (wikipedia entry).

[Bryan Alexander]

Yes indeed, Steve. Fuxes, right? Good call.

(Just friended you, Steve; nice LJ)

[Steve B]

Got it in one, the fuxes reference is exactly right.

Thanks for mentioning the add. I hope you don't mind scorpions.