The most amazing thing happened at the beach last week. After a 1.5 hr session in shoulder high wind swell””just enough to say hello to a few local friends””an older local guy who I don't care for much exchanged small talk as I went to the shower to change. I briefly mentioned that I was “still stretching out my wetsuit” because it was the first real day that the water temperature dropped below 60 degrees. I was already on my way to the shower when he called me back... he actually offered me a brand new fullsuit (3/2 Body Glove XXL MATR1X worn a total of about 20 times). Insane. From what I can piece together he's leaving for the islands (Hawai'i) next week and won't need the suit. Three things coincided here and I'm not sure what to make of them. One, just before the session, I noticed my current wetsuit's zipper was broken, but was able to make it work for the time being. Second, the smallest of generosities by someone who your not fond of can go a long way to repairing / changing that person's perception of you. Third, I've been digging deep into cinema/game theory lately, especially “The Matrix”. So, crazy. Call me a coincidentalist, but being in “the flow” speaks to me in ways when self-motivation starts to lack.



coincidentalism
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coincidence
A methodology based on the allowance of serendipity.



serendipity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serendipity
The art of finding something uselful while looking for something else.

Studio has been amazing. Ed Keller (instructor) and Bryan Flaig (asst. critic) have truly created an environment for learning that is quite unique to the pedagogies I've been previously immersed in. Whether this is a result of choosing SCI-Arc or it choosing me, or Ed being both open-ended / intense and Bryan helping us get focused / genuinely a fun guy, this vertical semester (the integration of undergrads and grads) has opened my eyes to some innovative ideas about architectural education.





pedagogy vs. andragogy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedagogy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andragogy

epistimologies
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epistemology

empericism, nativism, and constructivism
Montessori and Constructivism

behaviorism vs. constructivism
http://www.funderstanding.com/behaviorism.cfm
http://www.funderstanding.com/constructivism.cfm



applied constructivism
Constructivist theory as used in a museum setting.

This last weekend I was in Philadelphia, Trenton, Princeton & New York to 'walk' for my undergrad graduation ceremony (picture above) which I missed last year. What an amazing time. My wife, baby, Mom and Stepdad joined me in the festivities which included a sincerely inspiring graduation ceremony.







Also part of the weekend was a quaint stay in Princeton (see pictures above), purchase of some great books, a new continuation of many studio and seminar ideas, visiting NY (Holland Tunnel, WTC site, Brooklyn Bridge, Coney Island + Nathan's, PS1 / MoMA (pictures below), Guggenheim, Central Park, Columbus Ave, Times Square, SoHo + Lombardi's and Rice to Riches)... quite a long day in NY.











The next day in Philly, the liberty bell, independence hall, south street + cheesesteaks at Jim's Steaks, and a great walk through the historic and downtown museum disctricts.









A good portion of this plays really well into my studio design this semester. Experiential, hands-on learning balanced with theoretical understanding and deductive reasoning, sprinkled with some coincidentalism makes for a great andragogy, yes andragogy not pedagogy (I AM an adult, not a child or kid as some like to refer to unlicensed architects--sorry for the rant).





And, just for fun (for the archi-nerds like me)
The 10 Stupidest Utopias
I've been studying Constant's "New Babylon" for studio.

SECRET: (10 + 2 ) * 5 ... the procrastination hack
http://www.43folders.com/2005/10/11/procrastination-hack-1025
How could I have forgotten this one (i.e., waited so long to share this)?!? Here is a great way to overcome the procratination bug. It hits self-motivation a few times per week and needs to be treated on a consistant basis. Honestly, I've found this method to be VERY productive.