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Observation and Inter-action, Tools for Natural Learning Beverley Paine David Holmgren in his new book Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability encourages us to experience life first hand, to observe and interact rather than passively digest the experiences of others. Conversation and story-telling are the most significant learning tools we use in our lives. Talking about what we've experienced, or observed, requires little effort - it's something we all do naturally. Charlotte Mason extolled the virtues of 'narration' - the ability to retell what we've read, seen or experienced. Retelling is how we make sense of what we observe. With narration the trick is to start simply, always at the child's level of understanding and ability, and slowly build until a high level of understanding and comprehension has been reached in adolescence. This technique definitely reflects a permaculture 'zone' approach to planning and design. Respectful listening and guided open-ended questions are the tools we use to hone observation and narrative skills. Questions need to be genuine inquiries that provide scaffolds and incentive for future learning, not simply 'tests' of knowledge or understanding. The aim is to gently building the child's ability to notice and remember greater detail. Recording our observations underpins our culture. Humans have always left images for others to gaze upon and try to understand their meaning. Little children love leaving sticky marks, be it chocolate handprints or early attempts at writing (scribbles). Symbols are powerful ways of communicating ideas and emotions. Only a century ago the ability to draw accurately what the eye could see was essential to the development of scientific knowledge and understanding. Drawing has benefits beyond artistic ability. Try sketching a bowl of fruit: different parts of the brain are required to work together to produce a recognisable, let alone reasonably accurate, portrayal. You can't draw this picture in seconds, it's a complex task and requires the development of many skills. Keeping a 'nature journal' is a powerful learning technique that marries observation with recording and teaches skills across the educational curriculum. I brainstormed some more ways we can help our children to 'observe and interact':
P13 Permaculture Design Principle #1, book "Permaculture Principles and Pathways Beyond Sustainability" by David Holmgren, Holmgren Design Services, 2002 www.holmgren.com.au Debbie Dunn, Message #2 , http://groups.yahoo.com/group/learningnaturally/ May 16, 2006
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education in Australia. State and Territory governments are responsible for regulating home education and have different requirements, however home educating families are able to develop curriculum and learning programs to suit the individual needs of their children.
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Pioneering members of the home education movement in Australia, Beverley and Robin Paine are passionate advocates of true educational choice for families. They began homeschooling their children in 1986 and three years later started the South Australian Home Based Learners network.
Beverley wrote Getting Started with Homeschooling in 1995-97 and since then continues to write books and booklets on home education. She balances spending time helping home educators with working in her garden and renovating her home, as well as continuing to build her collection of writing on a variety of homeschooling subjects. Beverley maintains an extensive collection of websites as well as several Yahoo groups supporting families teaching their children at home.
In 2007 Beverley joined the HEA and was a committee member for three years during which time she edited and produced the HEA Newsletter, Stepping Stones for Home Educators magazine, annual Resource Directory and other HEA publications.
If you'd like to keep in touch with what Beverley is up to her in her life, sign up for the Homeschool Australia Newsletter or visit her Homeschool Australia Facebook page.nor do they endorse or recommend products (other than their own) listed in contributed articles, pages, or advertisements.