Arbitrary Hour

Arbitrary Hour is a Fall 2008 seminar series course organized by students from the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Boston, MA. The course is essentially an educational collective in which each student in the course (there are no "teachers" or "professors") gives an hour long seminar on a topic that interests them. The seminar can be about anything, from a hands on baking experience to a discourse on international politics.

Course Background, Description, and Expectations

All students enrolled in the course will be required to plan and deliver at least one seminar during the course. All students are required to give written feedback about each seminar to the seminar leader. The leader must then write a written reflection about their seminar that will be posted to the Arbitrary Hour blog for others to read. This will enable us as a group to figure out what makes an effective experience. Students are encouraged to casually post about the seminar experiences (with photos and video!) to the Arbitrary Hour blog.

Seminars

A thirty? minute lecturing time limit might be important. It is difficult to give an engaging one hour lecture, and a discussion or hands-on experience is likely more effective for learning.

Competencies

Olin College employs a competency system. The following competencies will be addressed by the Arbitrary Hour course:

• Life Long Learning
• Communication

How to Join

Olin College students wishing to take this "course" should contact Greg Marra, preferably before the first week of September, which is the due date for Independent Study paperwork. You must also create a Wikiversity account and add yourself to our participant list below.

External learners who would like to participate in the course are welcome. While geography may be a problem, we will attempt to be accommodating, and would love drop-in lecturers or participants! To let us know your interest, please add yourself to our participant list below!

Participants

• Greg Marra (Olin College)