Digiphon for this page
The Page Layout is 2 columns the left side is narrower, I created the text on Mac TextEdit saved as a plain text uploaded it to Mahara for resilient documentation. The header image was created with http://pixlr.com/editor/ saved as a PDF at 50 kb and uploaded to mahara, and inserted in the text. The 3 images in the text were edited in Preview and inserted in the text with a horizontal and vertical margin of 10. OP2 Flowchart and Emergent-design flowchart were created with Grafio app for iPhone4, emailed, downloaded, cropped/sized in Preview saved as PDF at 50 kb and uploaded to Mahar. SWOC analysis image was created in Mac Pages, I took a screen shot with Mac Grab saved it as a PDF at 50 kb and uploaded it to Mahara. The brainstorming emergence photo was taken with iPhone 4, edited with snapseed app, emailed, edited with preview and uploaded to Mahara. I am using html anchor tags for internal links and the citations, see HTML for Mahara 3.1 Supporting evidence right column.
Design framework for OP2
To design my Output Packets for my LIPD I made a niche analysis of the time, place and oppertunities for each. I arrived at the assesment that OP2 should be Permaculture Design and Implementation because summer is full of hands-on land based oppertunities.
I like the thoroughness of the design framework GaSADIMET (image right). I wanted to self-articulate my OP2 process, so I interpolated it using flowchart shapes to further describe the dynamics of each individual process - See OP2 Flow Chart in the left column.
Design methods employed
I originally articulated my goals for OP2 in my LIPD.
- Developing skills in designing and implementing permaculture practices; multipurpose hedgerow, polycultures, food forests, soil building, ponds, swales, paddies, natural building, systems thinking.
In June I reviewed my LIPD, surveying my inputs (work) and outputs (content). I then analyzed my goals compared to the content I was creating. I found that the focus of this OP had a much broader scope than I originally envisioned. My content had more focus on the design processes and implication of a design, than design implementation. Systems thinking was last in my original goals, I realized it was taking a front row seat. This led to deep contemplation and some frustrations on how to frame this project.
I entered the Assessment phase of my content and realized the complexity of my project. I decided to do a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities. and Challenges Analysis, see OP2 SWOC Analysis image left column.
One of the obstacle I found was the lack of a physical designs for my micro-projects. Instead of working around it, because it was not done "the right way”, I decided to take it head on and explore it. "The problem is the solution".
This led to design, In July I traveled to the NE Permaculture Convergence which had the theme of the Edge Effect (1). This experience made me question the edge effect and its connection to emergence, for details see 3.2 Un/Learning journal excerpts. After the convergence I visited two communities on the coast of Maine that I had lived with six and seven years prior. On visiting the first community while self-foraging I discovered the ripple effect diagram people were using online (2). It was the culmination of these experiences which made me realize my OP2 project was "Skillflex on the Transformative Pathway - emergence and the ripple effect".
Implementation, after completing each micro project I started to explore and map my emergent-design flow and the ripple-effect, covered in project outcomes. The edit and evaluation and reflection processes will follow this.
Emergent-design flow
Looking a little deeper into the emergent-design flow, I realized it is a Sense-making model (3) and it fits into the Complex category of the Cynefin model, left column. I made two attempts to map my emergent-design flow, see my second draft, left column. To see more on the emergent design flow see 2.2 Thinking in use and 3.1 Supporting evidence
My review of these choices
Were these good choices? I found every design method and framework I explored and implemented to be useful and transformative.
What went well? This being my first project OP I felt I was pushing through beginner crunch. By exploring these models of articulating; goals, obstacles, and processes, I was able to break down seemingly unapproachable tasks to attainable next steps.
What was difficult? As I proceeded to ask questions of my project, tangents formed. I observed this fairly simple system become complex vary fast. The trajectory of emergent complexity can easily feel like entropy is taking over. The tools and support systems allowed this difficulty to feel manageable. For more details see Gaia U and pathway reflection in 2.2 Thinking in use
What would you do differently next time? I believe next time I will reach-out sooner to a skillflex advisor or another ally that has knowledge of complex systems.
Citations
1. ^ "Edge Effect", Wikipedia.com, Aug 2012
2. ^ "Ripple effect diagram", Google images, Aug 2013
3. ^ Dervin, Brenda Ph.D.,"An Overview of Sense-making Research", International Communication Association annual meeting, Dallas, May l983
Creative Commons license
1.2 Core report - Project design by Will Bode is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available from Will Bode.