Not good to experiment on students. I think they should have been a lot more upfront with the students about why they were structuring the class that way, and what they expected from the students. That would have given students a better starting point.

My own art major was similar, although better described as an Open Room instead of a Locked Room. You show up when you want and make what you want with zero guidance from the department faculty on whether you are wasting your time. Every two weeks you get to stand up and present your work to the rest of the department during group critiques, which were the only real thing that was mandatory.

Transitioning to that style of education takes at least half a year, but its actually great training for work after school.