If things happen in an emergent kind of way then every now and again it's a good idea to reflect on what's emerging. Two phone calls this morning provide pointers.
The connecting theme is simply my own learning journey and how it illustrates and informs my ideas about deep patterns of change. One call was from Jemima Gibbons of FRSA London Reboot. The other was from Francis Sealey, of GlobalNet21 meetups.
Exploring the Landscape of Change
Jemima Gibbon's call was about FRSA London Reboot 2: Stimulate, Expand, Amplify! on Wednesday, 27 February 2013.
I've been invited to do one of the three minute pitches. I'll be asking for map-makers and fellow explorers for the Landscape of Change.
I have so much in my head about the Landscape of Change as a result of my learning journey since 2000. It's part of the thinking that I shared in "The Invisible Revolution" and that I've been developing elsewhere in various ways. I long to find easier ways of recognising fellow explorers. I want us to develop enough maps and shared language to benefit from each others experiences, as we go forward into unknown regions of our rapidly changing world.
Emerging 21st Century Learning and Education Systems
Francis Sealey's phone call was about a group we have set up in GlobalNet 21. It's a group where we can learn, and can look at new opportunites for learning, now we are more than a decade into the 21st century.
We've had two sessions so far - including some discussion of what people want and which direction the group will go. (Dadamac's useful links has pointers to more details). The next session will probably be a webinar, summarising ideas so far, explaining future vision, inviting in people who can't join the face-to-face sessions, and exlporing other ways to continue online.
Free-range learning
There are other interconnections for me related to learning in the 21st century, some of them within Dadamac, some elsewhere. I hope to connect them together more, and make them more visible to each other.
I've been a "free-range learner" using the Internet to learn since 2000. It's been non-formal learning i.e. no courses and no accredition. I've simply seen the Internet as a huge opportunity to learn, and then I've found people to learn with and to learn from. Perhaps most importantly, by e-meeting these people, I've also learned more about other people's lives, beliefs and attitudes (and at the same time, learned more about my own). The experiences are relevant to learning, and to collaboration, and to online communities. I've written elsewhere on some of these themes.
When I write, or discuss things wth my contacts (online or offline) I'm usually reflecting on practical experiences. The practical experiences take on a different depth after careful reflection and discussion. That learning dance between theory and practice is my preferred way of learning.
Collaboration and interconnections
My work in GlobalNet21(GN21) with Francis Sealey is about emerging systems which enable learning. I'm delighted by Francis' suggestion that the next GN21 planning meeting should be combined with a learning group session. This means that the future plans of GN21 and the future development of the GN21 learning group can be thoroughly interconnected.
When it comes to the Landscape of Change, education is the area I'm best equipped to explore in detail with other people. I also have interests in the wider landscape, which is why I'd love to explore further with people who know more about different areas, and see them more clearly. If I can't "go on those exploration" with them then at least I'd like to hear their "travellers tales" and see the "sketch maps" that result from their explorations.
My hope for the FRSA reboot pitch about the Landscape of Change is that it will lead to collaborations with RSA fellows who will bring their various perspectives and skills to the idea and reality of exploring and mapping the Landscape of Change.
Of course I'm not only intersted in collaborating with RSA fellows. I'll happily pitch the "Landscape of Change" anywhere that I might find fellow explorers and mapmakers. An essential part of finding our way in the Lansdcape of Change is to find others who are travelling in similar directions and to discover how we can help each other along the way.
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