Emergent Ecological Design: A Practical Tool

The way we design holistic and relational learning experiences can be modeled on ecological processes, which are themselves inherently relational and sustainable. Permaculture design, closely related to ecological design, focuses on the careful design of relationships to create nurturing systems that care for the earth, care for humans, and share the surplus—a focus on equity and abundance. If we can design teaching and learning ecologically, in ways that most closely mimic ecological patterns, processes, and characteristics, we can more fully inhabit and perpetuate a relational, ecological paradigm of interconnectedness. An ecological design process thus engages our spirits, the consciousness of our interconnectedness to all life. Ecological design offers a spiraled approach to designing learning processes that include: Observation, Visioning, Shaping, Patterning, and Implementation/Observation. With examples and prompts, I offer emergent ecological design as a practical tool for the process of designing transformative eco-spiritual learning experiences.