layers
I see work related to this research paper as multiple layers, like Russian dolls (thanks to Andrew for this metaphor)
Design, Networking & Data Collection
Design process started from the following considerations:
- Balancing academic work with real-life applications to highlight applications of home-composting worldwide by ordinary people, and the governmental support of these practices.
- By shedding light on the few experiments we have in hand in Syria I hope this research will encourage more experiments, documentation and sharing of results
- providing simplified however deep technical information on the composting process that can be understood and used by people of different backgrounds.
Since this would be my first experience in writing a research paper, I started by reviewing sample research papers: Riad shared some papers produced by students in graduation year in Damascus University. Dima provided me with sample research paper she’s using as a template for her work, together with instructions published by the university on research basics, finally did a Google search.
Networking & data Collection
Second, I made contacts with the following people:
- Dima Sabboura: She’s doing a Masters program at the faculty of Agriculture in Damascus University. she is highly interested in my diploma program and has provided me so far with great support on my urban gardening project. Dima provided some resources on designing research paper.
On another level, as part of her Masters thesis, Dima will be allocated a small piece of land in her faculty to take care of. I suggested that we work together on designing this land using permaculture principles to create a highly productive and stable system. This would be a big project with great impact for both of us. Planning for this project will start later in March of this year.
- Engineer Riad Qabiqli: member of an NGO who is one of our program grantees. He is a teacher at the Faculty of environmental science in Damascus University and supervises research papers of graduating students. He is also former head of solid waste processing facility of Damascus, and a keen environment activist. He provided me with valuable resources on composting practices in Syria and he is following up the research with me from design process. He offered to shared results of this research with another prominent NGO who might then take the practice into wider application.
-Dr. Ali Zedan: One of the agriculture experts who worked with our GEF SGP program.
He is currently teaching at the faculty of agriculture in Latakia University (on the Syrian coast). Dr. Ali is currently supervising two masters students working their thesis on composting agriculture waste. I have made contact with one of the students and she will provide me with some resources on composting practices in Syria. Dr. Ali also showed interest in my research.
-Ms. Rosa Jarary: An agriculture engineer working with a prominent NGO (also one of our grantees). She provided me with names of organizations and projects that have already done initiatives on composting in Syria
-Ms. Hounada Al Sadat: she is interested in doing more experiments on composting. She originally suggested a nearby village where she has access to a small land lot, however the place is becoming very risky security wise and access to that place is not possible for the time being.
-Permaculture group in Egypt: provided very important resources and information on composting practices in Egypt, also put me in contact with two people with practical experience in Egypt, and UAE.
Based on the above resources, I organized my research paper according to the following plan:
Describing my experience with composting using Kolb model of experiential learning:
Concrete experience
I started this experiment in December 2012. I started with a plastic barrel, punched holes on all sides, and filled with layers of kitchen waste and sawdust. When the barrel was full, I moved to content to another one, and started building the next pile.
Basic management for the first pile include: turning the pile once a week, and adding excess water from house cleaning work. As the weather is getting wormer I started to note some bugs therefore I am considering adding aeration pipes.
RO _ AC
Reflective observation
Understanding the composting process is key for better management: for example understanding how the heat occurs allows to use the temperature as an indicator on the proceeding of the decomposition process. This basic understanding would also help composters in making decisions on what composting technique to use and to design the maintenance plan according to their situation. This would lead to more confidence by the composter, which would increase their willingness to learn and to spread their knowledge.
Abstract conceptualization
The best way, or perhaps the only way in some cases, to advocate new ideas is by actually implementing and sharing tangible results with people. People best learn by following examples, preferably local to their environment. For example when I used to watch You Tube videos on people in other parts of the world making compost in their beautiful backyards did not seem on any relevance.
Doing a compost pile in Jordan during the PDC back in 2009 was the experiment I build upon in my contacts with people here to showcase that composting can be done, it was done here and with great results.
Experiential Learning Theory
Experiential Learning Theory (ELT) provides a holistic model of the learning process and a multilinear model of adult development.
Experiential learning theory defines learning as "the process whereby knowledge is created through the transformation of experience. Knowledge results from the combination of grasping and transforming experience"(Kolb 1984, p. 41). The ELT model portrays two dialectically related modes of grasping experience -- Concrete Experience (CE) and Abstract Conceptualization (AC) -- and two dialectically related modes of transforming experience -- Reflective Observation (RO) and Active Experimentation (AE). According to the four-stage learning cycle depicted in Figure 1, immediate or concrete experiences are the basis for observations and reflections. These reflections are assimilated and distilled into abstract concepts from which new implications for action can be drawn. These implications can be actively tested and serve as guides in creating new experiences.