This subject contains a 2 day Compulsory Residential School.
The Residential School has been designed to:
- Acquaint students with the language of holism and systems thinking in the context of an ecological approach.
- Explain the various models that constitute an ecological approach and to engage in debate on aspects of them.
- Engage in in-the-field work regarding observational skills that are part of the subject's major assignment.
- Explore imagination and creativity in an experiential manner in the context of an ecological approach.
- Complete the student's interpretation of an ecological approach as commenced in Introduction to Ecological Agriculture and finalised in Human Ecology.
Activities to include
- An outline of the models and theories pertaining to sustainability based around the writings of Ken Wilber and Brian Swimme
- Basing the framework of the model to explore sustainability in a practical exercise and to introduce the new language of holarchy and holons which assists in the interpretation of sustainability
- Using Hoffman's methodology to develop observational skills as part of the students 2nd Person engagement with the environment
- Introducing a visual exercise in the context of the main assignment re the writings of Laura Sewall and her principles of ecological thinking
- Using a three dimensional model the Gregory Bateson model of learning is explained and used to create debate around holism and sustainability.
- A practical exercise on values based on the Brian Hall model and the significance of values in impacting on systems thinking and imagination development
- Using the thoughts of philosopher Henri Bortoft to explain holism: an interactive session
- The use of videos to set the context for issues mentioned above.
- Reflection on the success of the Residential School to challenge students' thinking and the assumptions that drive thinking and therefore decision-making.