Core report - Overview of projects and their outcomes

This page details my unlearnings and the outcomes of this year at Gaia University, in it you will find: 

• Links to all my OPs (project reports) of this year
• A summary of my five main projects of this past year with their outcomes and my un/learnings
• How this year had an impact on my life on a personal level.
• My work with patrix memes (negative influence) and the outcomes
• A Timeline of events/projects and their corresponding un/learnings and outcomes. 

Click the OP title to visit the OP (it will open in a new tab). 

Nearly all the learning goals I outlined in my LIPD where fulfilled through these projects. My Project management goals where the only ones that changed. As the skills I needed to manage my projects became evident my priority changed from business related skills to more organizational ones (which were in my LIPD Skillflex chart - see Pathway reflection). The organizational and design tools I gained in the orientation fulfilled these new priority PM goals. My aim is to fulfill more of the business side of my learning goals this coming year.   

 OP1a - Life and Career Review

OP1a was aimed at presenting the main experiences of my life that have shaped me. This process of opening-up and exposing my life to people I did not know was a great challenge. Looking over my life had a profound affect on me, it reassured me that all I had been through were steps leading me to the Gaia U learning path before me. 

 OP1b - Learning Intention and Pathway Design

OP1b was a look foreword at the year ahead. I worked to set my learning goals, design the projects that would help me meet these goals and create a timeline and management system to keep me on track. This project pushed my edges of having lived my life day-to-day with no real planning. It was a moving experience putting my future visions into words and seeing how my next-steps could connect to those long term visions. 

 OP2 - Skillflexing on the Transformative Path

OP2 my first project OP, was a conglomeration of many projects and events aimed at strengthening my design/hard skills. I took on the challenge of creatively funding my training for this project through work trade and using alternative currencies. Another large aspect of this project was networking and sharing my action learning path with others, from the NE Permaculture convergence in Quebec to communities I had lived with in Maine, USA years prior.

 Principle un/learnings - 

• Using hand tools and team work is not only satisfying but can be very efficient in accomplishing difficult tasks gracefully.
• Small and slow solutions provides time for the feedback loop strengthening the overall design and functionality of a project.
• Emergence has a great role to play in design which requires patience and deep observation. 
• The tools that I gained during the orientation are practical and useful for designing, managing and tracking my projects and learning pathway. 

Principle outcomes - 

• A reflective look into my own design process seeing what aspects I need to strengthen
• I gained confidence by working with others in teams and getting positive feedback
• Revisiting projects I had worked on years prior gave me a new sense of belonging to the community of World-changers
• A more established food forest and improved infrastructure at Kailash Ashram where I was living.
• A beautiful timber frame bathhouse for the youth circus in Vermont 

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OP3 - Leaderful Leadership

OP3 became a combination of two of the projects I had outlined in my LIPD, Community engagement and Leadership and teaching. Again through work trade and communication about my path I was able to access expensive teachings. The one week residential leadership training at Metta Earth was an amazing experience which has led to a possible long term partnership and potentially a new home.  I pushed my edges in this project by teaching my first introduction to Permaculture, a sourdough bread workshop and co-teaching an earthen oven workshop.

Principle un/learnings

• Give yourself ample time to plan a workshop before announcing it
• Every mistake is really a learning yield
• Every attempt to unite people in a common vision is powerful 
• Community/groups need time to meet each other to feel real connectivity 
• A sense of home and belonging is central to good ecology 
• Our thought-modality is important in learning not just the content 
• Active listening is an attention that increases every ones experience  

Principle outcomes

• A new confidence in teaching and applying design processes and principles
• Increased understanding/appreciation of group dynamics and team building
• Experience in Designing curriculum and getting feedback 
• Improved articulation/transmission of skills and processes 
• Experience in holistic communication and worldview literacy 

 OP4 - Passive Solar Panel

OP4 changed as I discussed my needs for a simple straight foreword project with my guild buddies and adviser. I realized I needed to hone my OP building skills and this project presented itself as that opportunity. Passive solar and alternative energy where also a key skillflex I had outlined in my LIPD.  

Principle un/learnings -

• Prototyping and outlining projects is the building of the projects foundation
• Intervening in my pathway by expressing my unmet needs brings new clarity and understanding
• Knowing your tools and materials before designing saves time and improves the outcome
• By informing people and getting them involved you strengthen your project and team 

Principle outcomes

• Advancement in flexing my systems thinking
• Use of my new leaderful skillflexes in empowering others
• New solar assessment skills of plotting a solar azimuth
• Increased carpentry and wood working skills using power tools