Unlearnings on parameters
With this visioning and systems work, I am creating the environment which gives form and context to my learning.
The diligence with which I inquire into my needs, yields, principles, processes and goals, determines the parameters of my un/learning. These parameters create the balance between breadth and depth of my learning experience.
It was not until recently that this teaching came in a deeply comprehensive way. Here are several of the ways it has come:
- When I reviewed my progress-tracking system of last year. See skillflex chart - a new tab will open. I realized this chart had not given me feedback in a meaningful way. For more details see left column of the Commentary & other projects page
- When I was confronted with my definition of permaculture being more narrow than my co-teachers, during the M.E. leadership course. I realized I had a narrow definition/parameter for a reason (which I will discuss in my OP2).
- When looking back over my Gaia work of last year, I saw that as the year progressed, my parameters became more clear and so was my work.
I have come to the conclusion that choosing a parametric scale of what it is you want to learn or define is important.
Why is this an unlearning? I realized part of my worldview includes rebelling against any attempts of restriction (parameters). Here I see I am redefining my worldview with an understanding that restrictions can be useful.
Presence Seed - I created the image below for my End of Year presentation, as a distilled expression of my un/learnings of last year. Looking at this image again in this context, I see that the circle radiating out from inquiry towards reflection and visioning is the encapsulating parameters which is born from inquiry itself. These parameters are your learning experience which surrounds you and your pathway, presence.
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OP process reflection
Emergence = renegotiation = re-design/intervention
One of the hardest parts of this OP was the occurrence of EMERGENCE!
Its clear looking at the commentary and other projects page this has been a busy time for me. I thought I had my year and OP projects well planned by the end of May, and had created much of this LIPD. The Spring and early Summer were so full that I missed my original July 1st deadline to finish this project.
Since I started this project so much has changed that I have had to re-design and renegotiate something in nearly every document of this project. The change in my living situation was one of the major factors.
Having documents such as mindmaps (which are easily alterable) has proved to be very effective for such an unstable context.
Having now gone through the full review process I have had another heavy round of editing changing the entire presentation of this OP. Over all I feel drained by the length and thoroughness of this process! The most valuable outcome for me is my Progress tracking rubric and F.L.E.C. checklist. I am still uncertain of where this pathway will lead, I will be "on the road" traveling the next eight months and feel there is still much to be revealed before I can know what is "right". I am very pleased with my pro-review which I speak about more in the commentary.
The edges ahead
I have completed the active experimentation (doing) side of my OP2. This included designing and teaching curriculum for the Metta Earth Institute's Leadership training course on permaculture and ecovillage design. I am now starting the OP design and reflection phases. Putting this complex experience into OP format and being effective in communicating my experience is a serious edge for me.
My OP3 work involves interviewing permaculture teachers to learn some of their best practices, which I intend to write into patterns. I intend to meet with some teachers at the Quebec Permaculture Convergence . I have already written to Dave Jacke and Toby Hemenway (who will be there) hoping to get 15-30 minutes of their time. I am taking my time to research pattern languages and pedagogical principles to come up with the questions that will hopefully reveal the patterns I am searching for.
There are many edges being revealed, meaning the learning opportunities are many! I will leave identifying and further discussion of these edges to their respective OPs.
World context - Journal extract
I wrote the metaphor below in my journal on May 3rd. I feel it expresses a deep Un/Learning and explains this project in the context of worldview-paradigm change.
"Everyone in this world is so busy with their nose to the grindstone, that they don’t see the thief who comes in and steels each blade as they finish sharpening it."
Our work has no meaning if we are not aware of the greater context. The greater context meaning evolution of thought and relations. By using protracted and thoughtful observation rather than protracted and thoughtless action we become true designers of our life and the world.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I am pleased to say that this process has clarified my learning goals! Though I still feel unsure what my projects will be and where they will lead, I feel I have a foundation to build off of. I have already updated my capstone time line once, so it is working to document my changes and helping to keep me on track. I feel my greatest achievement in this project was creating a quantifiable progress-tracking system. If you use a similar method I would love to hear how it works for you, please leave a comment! I hope that this OP has also clearly communicated my design process to potentially give you ideas of how you can create a similar plan for yourself. Feel free to explore the Commentary and Evidence pages for more details.