"History is not the past. It is the present. We carry our history with us. We are our history.
If we pretend otherwise, we are literally criminals."
James Baldwin
If we pretend otherwise, we are literally criminals."
James Baldwin
FractalPast is an online suite of history courses that allow learners, as the great historian David McCullough put it, to understand “who we are and why we are the way we are.” FractalPast courses are live seminar-style lectures and discussions, not pre-packaged videos, taped lectures, or scripted audiocasts. No AI, no algorithm, no propaganda. At FractalPast you are not eavesdropping on someone else’s course or passively watching a video. We’re fully interactive so you are too. You are not only free to contribute with your insights and your interest, you are encouraged to do so.
Unlike degree programs or affiliated seminars that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, this one is only $95 per course, for personalized learning. No tests, no exams, no attendance, no requirements of any kind. Just you, a passionate teacher, and a small community of learners. Each class is unique, responsive to student interests, and focused on understanding rather than grades or gate-keeping.
Our unscripted lessons let you ask questions, explore what interests you, and indulge your individual curiosity. FractalPast courses are taught and led by a PhD trained historian with over twenty years classroom experience. Our courses are designed at every scale to offer a complete narrative, yet one that points the way to further understanding and discovery.
Interested in learning history for learning's sake? We would love to have you. Visit the current courses page to take a look at our upcoming course schedule, or visit the "What To Expect" page to read policies, FAQs, and to better understand how we offer our learning-focused, no-pressure courses.
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Unlike degree programs or affiliated seminars that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars, FractalPast courses are only $95 each, to keep learning affordable. |
No tests, no exams, no attendance, no requirements of any kind. Just you, a passionate teacher, and the wonder of learning about the past. |
Each class is unique, responsive to student interests, and focused on understanding (rather than grades or gate-keeping). |
My Philosophy
Most of us understand instinctively that to know anything about ourselves--who we are, what makes us tick, why we are faced with the challenges we are--we have to know how we got here, what produced the circumstances of the present, and the challenges of the future. Knowledge of ourselves, of our politics, and of our culture is impossible without understanding the forces that have shaped our present-day realities. This is why history matters. And this is why FractalPast is committed to a robust and deep retelling of our shared history.
There are many good reasons to know history better than we do. Perhaps we’ve grown curious about an issue or event about which we know little. Perhaps we want to learn more about ourselves by understanding the times that produced our region or our family. Perhaps we’ve grown tired of being manipulated by dubious historical claims made by unscrupulous politicians. Perhaps we wish that we had had the opportunity to take a class in college on a topic about which we want to know more.
Useful knowledge about history, civics and government, literature and the arts, social relations, and political affairs are the common heritage and right of all people. Everyone should be empowered to enlarge the compass of their knowledge, expand their cultural literacy, and deepen their appreciation for our shared and complicated past.
There are many good reasons to know history better than we do. Perhaps we’ve grown curious about an issue or event about which we know little. Perhaps we want to learn more about ourselves by understanding the times that produced our region or our family. Perhaps we’ve grown tired of being manipulated by dubious historical claims made by unscrupulous politicians. Perhaps we wish that we had had the opportunity to take a class in college on a topic about which we want to know more.
Useful knowledge about history, civics and government, literature and the arts, social relations, and political affairs are the common heritage and right of all people. Everyone should be empowered to enlarge the compass of their knowledge, expand their cultural literacy, and deepen their appreciation for our shared and complicated past.