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  • From: J Hobbs <hobbsj@efn.org>
  • To: permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: [permaculture] curriculum/certificate
  • Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2005 17:57:47 -0800


--

Hello All,

Been following the curriculum/certificate thread with interestŠ

I've been teaching PcDC's since 1990 - 2 and 3 courses per year---- and have never repeated the same course twice. It is an evolving process - - the orchestration of how and when to offer up the specific topics in the curriculum is an art- as well as a science. The art is keeping folks' attention and the science is most of the material covered.

The focus of PcDC's are the Strategies it takes to develop WHOLE SYSTEMS DESIGN.... Permaculture courses offer the opportunity to develop frames of referenceŠ ways to evolve a more permanent culture. One of the biggest challenges of teaching a PcDC is remembering our role is not to give details on every technique but explaining how to design a whole system by integrating all the elements that define the big picture of a place.

There is an expectation, by some participants, that the certification course is the be all and end all of learning about Pc (Is this the same in other parts of the world or just in the U.S.?) The time needed to really delve into any specific subject that is referred to in Mollison's Manual would take months-- just on one subject ---it's not practicalŠ.

It's essential to clearly state at the beginning of each course- and repeat throughout the course- the importance of dynamic thinking-- proactive learning and that we offer a 'taste' of permaculture-- providing guidelines (Pc principles), bibliographies, websites, and other resources from which folks can move forward in their own personal research.

The beauty of the design courses I have been involved with is that by the final presentation most participants understand it is the inter-relationship of these components and the decisions for closing the loops that will, in the long run, create positive change. (A goal of Permaculture)

Courses need to cover the topics in the Designer Manual -- and create opportunities for communities to develop so people don't feel isolated at the end of the course-
This is an enormous advantage of week-end courses--- We are currently teaching an 11 session week-end series. During class time we create break-out groups, times for networking, as well as, lecture, slides, and hands-on projects. There is also home study assignments. As a result, folks from neighborhoods will continue working together .. this is a way for the learning process to carry on, long after the certificates are handed out.

I realize that every attendees' expectations and learning styles are
different-
We are casting seeds, not knowing where and which ones will germinate.

Couple other misc. responses:

-- It's my sense that Permaculture has actually been resurrected from the 'dust' of the late 90's. It is thrilling to hear the term Permaculture being recognized and honored when I'm reading journals, out in our community or at conferences (such as Eco-Farm- Tilth- Bioneers- etc)---- what a delight it is to hear people discussing how to bring these strategies to their farm or urban homesteads.

-- I have co-taught Teacher Trainings for the last four years: people in attendance do get what Pc is- and are there because they need/want guidelines for an effective way of sharing the information with others ---

-- We absolutely need more credible demonstrations -- we need to offer more advanced courses on a variety of topics-- water, soil, plants, invisible structures.. etc.

-- This conversation harkens back to why several of us instructors got together in 2002 to discuss the idea of a Western Permaculture Teacher's Association--- it was a dynamic interaction-we decided to meet again-and did so 2 years later-evolved the organization to the point of action-then the real world set in-too busy-not enough time to follow through with committed responsibilities----and so it sits idle-and here we are again-in discussion about how shall we have a credible global Permaculture organization with continuity of curriculum and peer reviewŠŠ.


Jude Hobbs
Eugene, Oregon

Thanks Lawrence, for all your work in facilitating this listserve- it is a valuable vehicle for exchange.





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