Define (in short)
In the introduction I already defined my project. Here are the two main purposes of this OP:
- reflecting about my first year with Gaia University
- outline steps I want to do differently the next time
The reflection should enable me to consciously expand my learning capacities as well as push forward my edges in terms of pathway management, OP production and project skills.
What has meaning for me?
- unlearn old patterns, learning in general
- contribute something on a local level which also has an effect on a global level
- be organized → goals, documentation, tracking, getting things done
- personal growth and development
- question the current system and look for other possibilities
- be as independent as I can
- enjoy nature and life
I started into the past year ...
... being curious about learning what I really want to learn.
... with little knowledge about project work (including time and process management).
... with no idea about design.
... with too many ideas about possible future projects, lacking a realistic implementation plan.
... a little overtaxed with self-directed learning in a distance study.
What worked well in the past year:
- creating ideas and concepts about projects
- managing OP productions
- being open for all possibilities and many ideas
- pushing forward my learning edges
- attending almost all learning opportunities (events, conversations, books) in my personal environment
- getting familiar with GaiaU
Learning Map
Cummulative Review for the entire Action Learning Cycle
Getting to know Gaia University a little closer started with the Online Orientation in October 2015. I really found value in the material and exercises. Looking back I can say that at first some of the material sounded a little too abstract and I did not know in what field it would help me in the future. Now I recognize that the material is meant to be reused all the time after the Online Orientation. So now I read it in specific situations and it always provides me with valuable information.
On a personal level my worldview shifted even more towards ecological regeneration and social justice in this first Action Learning Cycle. Gaia University contributed a lot to this shift as well as many conversations with people from the community where I lived, books and articles that I read and videos that I watched. Through all the information and my own thinking I got more aware of all the destruction and the power of the Patrix (destructive, oppressing patterns of the current system we live in) in the world. To achieve change in some of the destructive and oppressive patterns of our current system, I want to act as a change maker in my Action Learning Areas.
In my first Action Learning Cycle I worked on liberating my education, finding my interests and exploring my worldview as well as looking for possible leverage points in my project work. I started to achieve change on a personal and small-scale project level and both worked very well!
On a project and process level I experienced that learning simply needs time, trial and error and again time. For example, I knew from the beginning that setting clear, specific goals needs to be done in the beginning of a project in order to be effective, but for unknown reasons I rarely implemented it. Especially in the beginning I started very curious on an intuitive level without tracking, documenting and setting goals my project work.
From OP to OP I grew more into the thinking and the work with GaiaU. My Main Advisors Feedback (Laura Kästele) helped me to expand and push forward my learning edges.
Now, at the end of my first Action Learning Cycle, I got a general understanding of project and process work (including design processes). I got more effective in managing tasks and getting things done.
It feels like it took me the entire Action Learning Cycle to arrive, understand the patterns, requests and importance of GaiaU. I am curious and very motivated about my next Action Learning Cycle, starting in February 2017.
OPs
Managing Time and Promises
Overall I am satisfied with how I managed my time and promises. I experimented with several tracking methods (see phase "Design") and was always able to produce the OPs in time. Being very passionate about learning, I am very motivated to work a lot for Gaia University.
I see further learning opportunities in working more time-saving and getting things done more effectively.
My motto is going to be "from pattern to detail" and not the other way round (like I did it throughout the past year).
Managing promises always works well, if I set clear and sufficiently specific goals. So another learning opportunity is to practice setting clear goals in the beginning.
Transition Patterns
Pathway Management
Best practices
To read more about my best practices for project management, please click here!
Cummulative Timeline
Dissemination efforts
To share my boyfriend's (Fabian) and my dream to a wider public, we decided to start a website including a blog about living simply and happily (low ecological footprint, strong social networks). The website shares our vision for the future as well as important other information about living sustainably. On my personal site I added a short explanation of Gaia University and a link to my online portfolio. In the upcoming months we will share blog posts in the following categories: alternative education and learning, connection to and learning from nature, our experiences in communities, the patrix etc....
Please note that so far all the content is written in German. On the bottom left you can find a tool to translate the content through GoogleTranslator.
Cumulative Pathway Reflection
Curious and eager to start with Gaia University, I had thousands of project ideas at the beginning of my first year. I was motivated to start doing something I really wanted to learn and it felt like an amazing possibility! I managed to settle on three Action Learning Areas in which I implemented projects. I really liked to generate many project ideas and then spontaneously feel where to go deeper and how to change and adapt a project. Due to this very open, flexible and chaotic approach, I was challenged to properly manage the time of project implementation, OP-production, documentation and tracking. By following my interests and adapting to the circumstances, my real interests and the projects I wanted to work on clarified more and more over time and I felt more settled and strategic about my project goals.
Overall I pushed my learning edges forward in a way that I now have a clear idea about project, process and pathway management.