Authentic learning LO19322

Mnr AM de Lange (amdelange@gold.up.ac.za)
Tue, 22 Sep 1998 14:15:13 GMT+2

Replying to LO19223 --

Mark Feenstra <mark@strategiclearning.co.nz> writes:

> You write about the role of LO's in enabling authentic learning as
> distinct from fallacious learning.
>
> My question is how LO's can sustain authentic learning in a global
> societal ecology dominated by the modernist worldview? From what I can
> pick up there are plenty of people who would like to work in an LO but, in
> the same way forest vegetation only thrives in forest conditions (as
> opposed to say prairie), LO's will only thrive in a worldview that enables
> their emergence. Otherwise they will remain a marginalised species unable
> to fulfil their potential, and always under threat from species of
> organization better tuned to the dominant worldview.

Greetings Mark,

You have asked a very important question. I will not be able to answer it
more fully now. But when I am back, please remind me to give attention to
it again.

> This morning I was reading (in Out of Control by Kevin Kelly) how
> specific mature ecosystems require not only a critical mass of specific
> species, but also that these species must emerge in a certain order.

Yes, but this concerns very much an eco system undisturbed by humans. We
will have to think of such ecosystems as you have pointed out.

However, as soon as humans introduce a species foreign to a specific
ecosystem, the intruder may easily run amok, becoming an obnoxious plant
or animal. We see it happen all over the world. The ability of that
intruder to run amok is to a large part determined by its own DNA (genes).
In its original ecosystem that DNA did not allow it to run amok, but to
harmonise with that ecosystem.

We will also have to think of this disturbed ecosystem to see what we can
learn from it in order to promote the emergence of a LO.

> Given that the stakes are high this question seems fundamental to me...

I definitely agree. I plan to answer your question by beginning with
disspative self-organisation and then moving towards deep creativity.

> Thanks for your contributions, which I always enjoy.

Thank you for your kind words.

Best wishes

-- 

At de Lange Gold Fields Computer Centre for Education University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa email: amdelange@gold.up.ac.za

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