About Course
Tired of economic stories that promise growth, efficiency, and well-being—yet leave us facing cascading global crises and a sense of paralysis? It does not have to be this way.
DISRUPT introduces you to the economic ideas shaping today’s world and equips you with Critical Economic Literacy to recognize, question, and disrupt them. Together, we move beyond critique to reimagine and practice an Economics of Hope—one grounded in justice, regeneration, and collective flourishing.
Join a global community of DISRUPTors—educators, professionals, and activists—already working to build a regenerative future.
The question is not whether change is needed, but whether you will help lead it. Register and join our next cohort.
DISRUPT is an 8-week, college-level course requiring approximately 3-4 hours per week, culminating in a practical capstone project that you can use in your professional life.
Fall Cohort Sept – Nov
Spring Cohort April – June
Course Content
Welcome to DISRUPT
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Welcome to DISRUPT
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Let’s Get to Know You!
On Boarding – Rhythm and Pacing of Course
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About this lesson
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Economics is for Everyone
11:21
So What is CEL?
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About this lesson
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DISRUPT Thinking Routine
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DISRUPT Visual
Module 1 – Economics and The Price Mechanism
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About this lesson
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What is Economics all about? (hint: it is not about money)
03:32 -
The Invisible Hand?
02:30 -
Explore this website
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History of Western Economic Thought
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f2f Session 1 – January 14th 8pm Beijing time
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f2f Session 1 Video Recap.mp4
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Your DISRUPT Project
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Reflection 1 – How have I benefited from the price mechanism?
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References
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Extension Material
Module 2 – Economics Over the Ages
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About this lesson
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An Introduction to neoliberalism (Harvey, 2005)
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Quick overview of neoliberalism
00:00 -
Neoliberalism the ideology at the root of all our problems (Monbiot, 2016)
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A more dramatic telling of the neoliberal narrative
00:00 -
f2f Session 2 – 21st Jan 8:15 pm Beijing time
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f2f Session 2 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 2: Explain what neoliberalism means to you. Describe 1 way you see neoliberalism evidenced in your life or in our world.
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References
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Extension Material
Module 3 – When Pricing Fails: Externalities
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About this lesson
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What Causes the Price Mechanism to Fail?
00:00 -
How are Externalities Usually Corrected? The Pigouvian Tax
08:09 -
f2f Session 3 – 28th Jan 8:15pm Beijing time
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fsf Session 3 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 3 – What will our society look like when we pay the true price of goods and services we buy?
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References
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Extension Material
Module 4 – The Labour Market
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About this lesson
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What is a Minimum Wage? Does it protect or hurt workers?
09:32 -
How did Nobel Prize winning Economist, David Card, Challenge Conventional Economic Assumptions?
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23 Things They Do Not Tell You About Capitalism – Interview with Prof Chang
00:00 -
f2f Session 4 – 4th Feb 8:15pm Beijing Time
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f2f Session 4 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 4 – What is one of my own economic assumption about labour? How does the labour market advantage some while disadvantaging others?
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References
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Extension Material
00:00
Module 5 – The Gross Domestic Product
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About this lesson
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What is the GDP and how is it derived? How is GDP helpful? Problematic?
00:00 -
Who is Freire and What is “Banking” Education?
00:00 -
Pedagogy of the Oppressed Chapter 2
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f2f Session 5 – 11th Feb 8:15pm Beijing time
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f2f Session 5 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 5 – What are the ways I have been “banked” in my education that creates a sense of unbridled faith in the GDP?
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CEL Project Template.pptx
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References
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Extension Material
Module 6 – A Linear Economy in a Resource Scarce World
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About this lesson
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The Story of Stuff
00:00 -
Why the Doughnut Matters? Doughnut Economics
00:00 -
Biomimicry in Action
20:15 -
The Age of Carbon
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Your Project Submissions
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f2f Session 6 – 4th March 8:15pm Beijing Time
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f2f Session 6 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 6 – Economists have gotten their own story wrong…what other incoherences do you come across? What are the implications this has or can have? (eg.art as expression of beauty/truth but how its expressions are being commodified and falsified?
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References
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Extension Material
Module 7: Escaping from The Velvet Cage?
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About this lesson
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So what is Socially Sanctioned Ignorance/Epistemic Blindness?
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What does “Critical” Mean?
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The Way Forward in our Neoliberalized World – Critical Economic Literacy
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f2f Session 7 – 11th March 8:15pm Beijing Time
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f2f Session 7 Video Recap.mp4
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Reflection 7 – What has been my role in this Velvet Cage of neoliberalism? What role do I want to play?
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References
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Extension Material
Module 8: Project Presentations – Let’s DISRUPT!
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About this lesson
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DISRUPT Project Sample 1 – CEL in Physics.pptx
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DISRUPT Project Sample 2 – Short story: Undergrowth Protocol
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f2f Session 8 18th March 8:15 – 9:30pm Beijing Time
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CEL f2f Session 8.mp4
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Post Course Survey
Resources for Further Exploraton
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Ellis et al (2019) Teacher Education and the Germ (Global Education Reform Movement)
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Klees (2020) Beyond neoliberalism: Reflections on capitalism
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McCarthy (2011) The Unmaking of Education in the Age of Globalization, Neoliberalism and Information
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Grace Lee Boggs (2012) The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the 21st Century
Join the Wonder movement – Participating in the Healing of our World
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Congratulations on your successful completion of your DISRUPT course!
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