systems thinking ++

Everything is interconnected.  Yes - and it's complicated and simple. 
I spent five years on the complicated side:  (2001-2006) with some of the leading brains in
the world from Peter Senge (MiT)and his SoL org and their first Congress in Vienna,  then with Dr. Andrew Ford at Eastern Washington U and his 'environmental modeling' work, and interning with  Dr. Braungart in Hamburg with his EPEA Cradle-to-Cradle.  I have fond memories of speaking at a Systems Design conference in Bergen, Norway and a 'moose safari' in the fjords with a executive friend from Det Norske Veritas in Oslo.  I worked with Peregrine Systems, PowerSim software, and Cisco Systems on developing some pretty advanced complex SD (System Dynamic) models for lease holdings and workplace productivity.  And the result?  Once again (sigh), I was too far ahead of the curve and couldn't squeeze a profit to keep the business operations going. 
But, I learned a lot!  Things are complicated and counter-intuitive, and they sure are interconnected.  It was fun teaching it at CSUS's GBO program on sustainable business practices... carbon bathtub and all.
Fast forward a decade, and now I find myself deeply engaged with Joanna Macy's WTR work - and trying to figure out how to leverage that for some good.  And by good, I mean RESULTS.  I learned as an auditor for the Senate Baldridge Quality Award, that results are what matters - the rest is mostly marketing (aka window dressing).
So the challenge with the LeLc (Living Energy Learning Center)  will be how to incorporate all of this SD modeling, educational intents, inspiration, ancients' wisdom, Gaia's pleadings: calling us to PLEASE STOP this destructive onslaught... into real RESULTS for LeLc attendees that effect real change.



Fast forward to experiental learning.  i think that's the sweet spot.  All the lecturting, field trips, powerpoint & prezi shows are fine, but figuring out processes and exercises and DEMONSTRATING things in a lab type setting so that people can PLAY with things - that's my new passion, and that's where the LeLc ( is headed.





I ran across this interesting business playwheel (aka mandala? :-) about STEM and learning - what do you think?  is it worthwhile  pursuing?  stay tuned...
...  my opinion:   I think it's a lot better than Bloom's taxonomy - but that also has its purpose.  Sometimes I wish permaculture PDC and other programs would have some discipline in putting their learning programs together, rather than just follow some book or concept or brainstorming... but focus on REAL learning methods: like a taxonomy of learning?
The LeLc (Living Energy Learning Center at WinSol) is going to be exploring the simpler side of this interconnectedness.

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