An Exercise: Patterns

Shared by Graham Bell, from a recent PDC Handbook. Why are patterns important? They are easy to remember. They are portable and so can be used anywhere. They are universal so they fit changing circumstances. They are strong because they bind their elements together (‘geodesic strength’, tesselation). Patterns can be physical, behavioural or structural.

PDC Timetable and Thoughts by Graham Bell

Here you can find linked a sample timetable (in PDF) of a 12-day Permaculture Design Course, as delivered by Graham Bell at The Red Shed – Garden College, in Scotland over 6 weekends. Graham Bell also writes below about his ideas for a successful Permaculture course. He’s been teaching permaculture over 25 years. More info can… Continue reading PDC Timetable and Thoughts by Graham Bell

VAK Learning Styles Self-Assessment Questionnaire

This is a questionnaire for students to self-assess their learning styles. Contributed by Aranya and developed by Victoria Chislett VAK Learning Styles Self-Assessment Questionnaire Circle or tick the answer that most represents how you generally behave. (It’s best to complete the questionnaire before reading the accompanying explanation.) 1. When I operate new equipment I generally:… Continue reading VAK Learning Styles Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Micro-teach session: Abundance games

This post describes how to teach a game called “Resource Line” (and is a summary of a micro teach session with Mirka by Andrew Zionts at the Barcelona meeting). The lesson plan is as follows: Aims: To discover more about each other’s knowledge and skills. To create more beneficial connections between participants. To explore the… Continue reading Micro-teach session: Abundance games

A Book Review Exercise: “A Selection of Wise Words”

by Joel Rosenberg Context:  I’ve used this method with master level art & design & architecture students when running an intensive one week workshop called “Foraging and Gardening in the City” in Helsinki, Finland 2011-2013. This method can be used on a PDC too. Duration:  Part I. 30min. + Part II. 5min./student (12 students =… Continue reading A Book Review Exercise: “A Selection of Wise Words”

Winter School Outline

A Winter School is described in the linked file that is run in  12 sessions of 4 hours (excluding travel) spread over 6 weeks. Design exercises in different contexts allow students to hone design skills and learn meta skills. The file is a course outline – a work in progress with some obvious items lacking… Continue reading Winter School Outline

Permaculture in Brief

A presentation used as elevator pitch for audiences new to permaculture. File: Permacultuur in het kort 1 Language: Dutch Author: Leo Bakx Aardwerk, 2010 (CC: BY-SA) Time: 15 – 30 minutes plus Q&A time. Preceded or followed by a practical activity indoors or outdoors. Finished by pot-luck lunch, morning/afternoon tea or dinner – whatever is appropriate.… Continue reading Permaculture in Brief

An Introductory Permaculture Workshop

Objectives of the course/workshop: The course aims at introducing the permaculture design concept so that each participant, at the end of the course, has a very good grasp of it and some very solid base to start to deepen their knowledge about permaculture, either by self-study or by attending a PDC. The course does this… Continue reading An Introductory Permaculture Workshop

Didactic Analysis Model

Didactic analysis is a model to prepare an educational activity. It takes you through the steps and elements of the learning experience. Starting situation (Beginsituatie): collect information about the state of existing competencies and proficiencies of your learners. Add information about other characteristics like learning style and cognitive development for your target audience. Outcomes (Doelstelling):… Continue reading Didactic Analysis Model

Designing a Teachers’ Training College

Designing a Teachers’ Training college starts with coming up with a catchy name like: Aardwerk Academie. Just kidding. No, designing a teachers’ training college starts with the realisation that people learn best by doing and that systems (people) have an innate ability to learn, i.e.: the ability to change behaviour over time in response to… Continue reading Designing a Teachers’ Training College

Educational Videos: Ecological and Social Landscapes

Permaculture teacher Helder Valente, based in Portugal, has created a collection of educational videos about how to relate to ecological and social landscapes. They are freely available here on YouTube. The topics include, for example, food forests, kitchen gardens, pedagogy in education, celebration, design, soils, water management, permaculture events, teacher training and more.

Session Plan: Teaching PC Design Principles the Open Space Way

Shared by Antonio Scotti, As. Cambium Permacultura en Formación, Spain, October 2103 In this session, I use Open Space Technology as an inspiration to design a session about the teaching of the design principles for large groups, where some of the participants may have some prior understanding of them, and can help the others who… Continue reading Session Plan: Teaching PC Design Principles the Open Space Way

Orientation

Treasure hunt Aims: To help participants know the area Conduct a treasure hunt around the town/farm/village/center where the course is held. Hide various objects in important locations such as the closest shop, post office, bank, pharmacy, toilets, showers, swimming pool…  use a map of the area to plan this. There are lots of different ways… Continue reading Orientation