Been following the curriculum/certificate thread with interest
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 reference 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 practical.
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 review.
Jude Hobbs
Eugene, Oregon
Thanks Lawrence, for all your work in
facilitating this listserve- it is a valuable
vehicle for exchange.