COMMUNITY IS THE CURRICULUM

COMMUNITY IS THE CURRICULUM 

LIT FROM WITH ♾️ ART ME ☮️

LUCEAT LUX VESTRA 

CORE FOUNDATIONS are CORE VALUES 
HUMANITY HUMBLE 
HUMAN KIND 
WHY SO SERIOUS? 
Unless it is… 
LIGHTEN UP FFS ☮️
🙏🎶🤣

LOCAL ♾️ NATIONAL ♾️ GLOBAL 

💕 Rhizomatic 💕
🎶 LEARNING FOR LIFE 🎶

THUNDERBIRDS
ARE GO! 

FUNKY FINE & FREE FLOATING FRESH 

UNDERSTANDING is LIMIT LESS 

Rhizomatic learning is a pedagogical approach that uses the botanical metaphor of a rhizome—a network of roots that spreads in multiple, unpredictable directions—to describe the complex, non-linear, and often messy nature of learning. It posits that in a digital age, learning is not about mastering a pre-designed curriculum but rather about navigating an ever-changing landscape where "the community is the curriculum".[1, 2, 3]

Key Principles and Characteristics:

• Non-linear and Networked: Unlike traditional "arborescent" (tree-like) education, which is hierarchical and linear, rhizomatic learning is decentralized and connects any point to any other point.
• "The Community is the Curriculum": Coined by Dave Cormier, this principle highlights that in an open environment, learning is a social process where knowledge is negotiated among learners rather than passed down from teacher to student.
• Emergent Process: Learning goals are not predetermined. The curriculum emerges during the learning process itself, reacting to the needs and contexts of the participants.
• Uncertainty and Flexibility: Learners must be prepared to learn in situations where the "accepted way" or "right answer" is unknown, fostering adaptability to change.
• Learner Autonomy: Participants (often called "nomads") gather what they need for their own path rather than adhering to a one-size-fits-all curriculum. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

Origins:
The concept is rooted in post-structuralist philosophy, particularly by Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari, who introduced "rhizomatic thinking" to challenge fixed, hierarchical systems of knowledge. Dave Cormier adapted this into a theory of learning, often applied to Massive Open Online Courses (cMOOCs). [1, 2, 3]

Rhizomatic vs. Traditional Learning:

• Traditional: Teacher-centric, standardized, content-focused, goal-oriented.
• Rhizomatic: Learner-centric, customized, community-focused, process-oriented. [1]

Benefits and Challenges:

• Benefits: Promotes critical thinking, creativity, and high-level engagement with complex, real-world problems. It helps learners "embrace uncertainty" and adapt to new situations.
• Challenges: The lack of structure can be demotivating, disorienting, or uncomfortable for some learners. It can be difficult to manage and measure in formal educational settings. [1, 2, 3, 4]

In essence, rhizomatic learning is a method of fostering a "community of practitioners" who build their own knowledge networks to navigate complex, changing landscapes. [1]