Ecology of Learning: Experiential Education in Agriculture and Food Systems. (3526)
Authors:
C. Francis* - University of Nebraska
Abstract:
Design of effective learning landscapes for today’s students in agriculture must integrate knowledge, skills, attitudes, and visions. Experiential learning taps into multiple senses and provides relevance and unique stimulation for enhancing education, while helping students place knowledge into context and awakening an appreciation for the importance of whole systems. Among the most successful and sustainable models are natural ecosystems that demonstrate complexity, diversity, multiple biological interactions, and resilience under changing conditions. We are exploring their natural structures and functions to search for lessons that can inform the improvement and effectiveness of learning environments. Food webs are
analogous to knowledge webs and show potentials for collaborative learning.
Unique niches in nature demonstrate the importance of time and place, and provide lessons about importance of context for applying our information in agriculture.
Succession of plants is similar to development and ingestion of new ideas, and the logical sequences in which this may happen. Emergent properties of ecosystems are analogous to the generation of creative ideas and connections when students meet and share experiences and insights about a complex topic. This approach embraces the concept of an ecology of learning that can help us develop more effective systems education.
Speaker Information: Charles Francis, University of Nebraska, 279 Plant Sciences University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0915; Phone: 402-472-1581; E-mail:
Session Information: Tuesday, November 2, 2004, 7:55 AM-11:30 AM Presentation Start: 9:30 AM
Keywords: Experiential learning; Discovery learning; Agriculture and Food systems;
Practical education
