The Patchwork Text: a coursework format for education as critical understanding

Abstract

This paper presents a case for a new format for coursework assignments in Higher Education, derived from aesthetic theories of representing understanding, namely the Patchwork Text. It is argued that the essay, on one hand and the reflective journal, on the other, fail to provide real emphasis on balancing diversity and synthesis, judgement and the suspension of judgement, which might be said to characterise a model of Higher Education as a process ‘critical’ understanding. In contrast, this is precisely what the Patchwork text format aims to do. An example is presented of a Patchwork Text produced in the context of social work professional education.