Bricolage

Still here. The semester’s end is fast approaching, and as I think of the end of the school year, I think also of the beginning of the next one. Goals for next semester – better incorporate critical thinking into my courses. To do that, I want to use more primary sources and Journal articles for analysis. In the introductory survey courses, less controversy, more historical analysis with heavy reliance on primary sources, which can then become both an example of the importance and use of evidence, and provide a solid foundation for classroom analytical activities. Students need to be encouraged to write more, but I also want to take notice of newer technology if I can find a way to adequately evaluate computer and video presentations among other things. This might encourage more students to become active in the process of learning by helping them to use their own natural learning abilities.

I thought it might be important to address the name of the blog before I begin, just to set the record straight.  Bricolage (bree-co-lawj) is a French word that means to put things together with the items and tools you have at hand.  The reason I use it is simply because I have recently been reading Claude Levi-Strauss, the famous French Anthropologist and Structuralist, and this is a term that he employs.  By it he means that the study of the human world, as opposed to the study of the physical world, must be undertaken with the tools we have at hand – namely, in his case, language (he is heavily influenced by Saussure, the “father” of Structuralism).

I won’t go much further than this, just because I am not particularly heavily influenced by either Levi-Strauss or Saussure.  I chose “Bricolage” as the title for this blog simply because I like the term, and I do plan to be, in some sense, a “bricoleur” – one who constructs things using bricolage.  This blog will be ecclectic, and mostly my thoughts on things.  I do not expect to be consistent, or always ‘correct’, as I see writing as a way to learn, rather than as a way to communicate some infallibly correct understanding of reality.  I don’t have that.  What I have is evidence, reason, ideas, and interests.  Comments are always welcome.  Flames are not.

My first blog post. Not yet sure what I am going to do with this blog, but I do know that it will contain blogs on history for my students, and perhaps assignment information, as well as random thoughts bouncing around in my head about history, location, historiography. I may also include some podcasts if I get those going.

Thanks to edublogs.org for this opportunity.