ARC Process - Transition Whatcom2024-03-29T13:57:10Zhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/forum/topics/arc-process?groupUrl=edapgroup&commentId=2723460%3AComment%3A50670&groupId=2723460%3AGroup%3A44078&feed=yes&xn_auth=noLinda - Thanks for your comm…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-07-11:2723460:Comment:576912011-07-11T04:22:32.876ZTris Shirleyhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/TrisShirley
Linda - Thanks for your comments.<br></br><br></br>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">I like your “What, Why and How” suggestion as a starting point for the structure of ARC contributions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> For those contributions that are actually instruction (as opposed to just links or whatever), I would also like to see something that explains what the student will be able to do at the completion of the lesson. …</font></p>
Linda - Thanks for your comments.<br/><br/>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">I like your “What, Why and How” suggestion as a starting point for the structure of ARC contributions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> For those contributions that are actually instruction (as opposed to just links or whatever), I would also like to see something that explains what the student will be able to do at the completion of the lesson. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These statements were once called Behavioral Objectives, but there’s no need to be technical about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> This could go in the What section along with a general statement of the topic as you suggest.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">I really like the personal EDAP concept. That is sort of what I had in mind when I was talking about the Transition University idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> A personal EDAP could be the final requirement for Bachelor of Transition degree. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Implementation could be done at the graduate level!</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">I’m assuming that the basic idea of the categories is to convey to contributors what kinds of topics are relevant, and to make it easy for our “customers” to find a lesson that meets a particular need. Categories are cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I don’t see why we shouldn’t have as many as are useful to optimize access.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">In that context, I do disagree somewhat about ignoring Energy as a category. I think there will be great interest in learning how to obtain the energy one needs for food preservation and cooking, for heating, and, if any is left over, for transportation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> Being able to access the topics via an Energy heading seems useful to me.</font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">Of course, at the next level under Energy, you might fine subheadings such as: Energy for food preservation<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> (Which would link to Food Preservation topics that address the energy issue) or Energy for cooking <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(Which would link to Cooking topics that discuss types of stoves and ovens).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font size="3"><font face="Calibri">One could also say that economics affects everything people do, so we ought not have an economics category.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> If you have to leave something out, that omission would make more sense to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> I do think an understanding of basic economic principles is vitally important.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> But it isn’t something that is an immediate concern to the average person in crisis. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></font></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><font face="Calibri" size="3">Economic issues related to housing could better be discussed in practical terms along with other housing topics, for instance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> When someone has a housing crisis, they’ll look under Housing and (one hopes) find the economics info they need.</font></p>
<span style="line-height: 115%; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">However, I think we will learn what categories are effective from feedback as we go along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> For now we just need some sensible starting point. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to get emotional over where we start.</span> Now that the permaculture pri…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-07-10:2723460:Comment:575972011-07-10T21:27:48.014ZLinda J Felshttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/LindaJFels
<p align="left">Now that the permaculture principles class is almost completed, I'm back to trying to wrap my head around our ARC project. The class has been very helpful. Somehow, even though I read the Transition Handbook, I missed the whole connection with permaculture. But then I figured permaculture dealt with just gardening and home building. I am definitely drawn to the more social and cultural aspects of the principles.</p>
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<p align="left">Tris, I love the idea of…</p>
<p align="left">Now that the permaculture principles class is almost completed, I'm back to trying to wrap my head around our ARC project. The class has been very helpful. Somehow, even though I read the Transition Handbook, I missed the whole connection with permaculture. But then I figured permaculture dealt with just gardening and home building. I am definitely drawn to the more social and cultural aspects of the principles.</p>
<p align="left"> </p>
<p align="left">Tris, I love the idea of both experimental and certified lessons as well as the position of ARC contributors. I especially love the idea of having a diversity of lessons from text to tutorials and videos. We could even have a tutorial on how to create a personal energy descent action plan. That was brought up in class last week. And I agree that discussions about theory (beyond comments on lessons) belongs on the TW Ning site and not in the ARC space.</p>
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<p align="left">I've been thinking about how to build our ARC with some basic structure but lots of flexibility. I can see some topics that might not lend themselves to online lessons. There could be quite a diversity of responses. How about a structure where each topic answers three questions – What? Why? & How To? The What would be the description of the topic, be it seed saving, alternative currency or biofuels. The Why would encompass the vision – <span>why is</span> this an action toward resilience? And the How To could be one or more lessons, experimental or certified. But it could also be resource links to schools that offer classes, or links to websites with the information already available or a description of a locally developed product with contact information or . . . (use our imaginations). For instance for local investing, the How To could be information on contacting the new Whatcom Investing Network. Perhaps under a topic dealing with Heart and Soul issues, we could have a selection of local poetry on dealing with energy descent. I envision starting with TW groups and moving outward. We provide some structure, such as using the Why, What & How To format. Then each topic could be linked to one or more of the major categories. I'm seeing more of a connecting web develop.</p>
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<p align="left">As far as categories are concerned, I've been struggling with the categories suggested under the “Step One: Developing a Framework” discussion. I wasn't sure what was missing for me until I saw the seven domains from the Permaculture Design System Flower. They are</p>
<ul>
<li>Land and Nature Stewardship</li>
<li>Built Environment</li>
<li>Tools & Technology</li>
<li>Culture and Education</li>
<li>Health & Spiritual Wellbeing</li>
<li>Finances & Economics</li>
<li>Land Tenure & Community</li>
</ul>
<p align="left">I have two reasons for proposing these. First, it would keep us linked to the Transition Movement's roots in permaculture. And two, you will notice Energy is not a category since it is imbedded in all of them. That is the whole point of energy descent; it affects everything. A good place to learn more about these is at <a href="http://permacultureprinciples.com/flower_tenure.php">http://permacultureprinciples.com/flower_tenure.php</a>.</p>
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<p align="left"> </p> RE: Idea 1 - I think we coul…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-13:2723460:Comment:508842011-05-13T16:00:55.612ZTris Shirleyhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/TrisShirley
<p>RE: Idea 1 - I think we could brainstorm a short list of topics and then recruit "topic champions" to administer ARC contributions for that topic. We can publish a process for expanding the ARC to include additional topics so that the range of topics can expand based on public interest. Bacically, whenever there is a new topic, adiministrator, and the prospect of a few contributions we expand the scope of the ARC to meet that need.</p>
<p>RE: Idea 2 - Yes it could. I suspect there will be…</p>
<p>RE: Idea 1 - I think we could brainstorm a short list of topics and then recruit "topic champions" to administer ARC contributions for that topic. We can publish a process for expanding the ARC to include additional topics so that the range of topics can expand based on public interest. Bacically, whenever there is a new topic, adiministrator, and the prospect of a few contributions we expand the scope of the ARC to meet that need.</p>
<p>RE: Idea 2 - Yes it could. I suspect there will be some intersection between topics in existing EDAPs and what we want to address, in practical terms, in the ARC. Refer to the discussion Action Plan: Step One... on the ARC Work Group page. ( You have to click "view all" at the bottom of the discussions to see it) for the existing list. Feel free to check out the TUS slide show and add your recommendations to that discussion.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><cite>Kyler Boyes said:</cite></p>
<blockquote><div><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>IDEAS for Discussion</strong></p>
<p>1. What kinds of things -specifically- would be included in this document? How to begin growing your own food? AND A list of resources ie; people, community gardens, links, places for materials, etc... to help you get going on growing food?<br/><br/>2. Could the Transition US site/organization be a resource to get started on this? Here is a web address to a page on the site with free slideshows we could look at to get some ideas:<br/><a rel="nofollow" href="http://transitionus.org/resources/presentations" class="wiki_link_ext">http://transitionus.org/resources/presentations</a></p>
</div>
</blockquote> IDEAS for Discussion
1. What…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-13:2723460:Comment:503522011-05-13T04:20:30.600ZKyler Boyeshttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KylerBoyes
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>IDEAS for Discussion</strong></p>
<p>1. What kinds of things -specifically- would be included in this document? How to begin growing your own food? AND A list of resources ie; people, community gardens, links, places for materials, etc... to help you get going on growing food?<br></br> <br></br> 2. Could the Transition US site/organization be a resource to get started on this? Here is a web address to a page on the site with free slideshows we could look at to get…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>IDEAS for Discussion</strong></p>
<p>1. What kinds of things -specifically- would be included in this document? How to begin growing your own food? AND A list of resources ie; people, community gardens, links, places for materials, etc... to help you get going on growing food?<br/> <br/> 2. Could the Transition US site/organization be a resource to get started on this? Here is a web address to a page on the site with free slideshows we could look at to get some ideas:<br/> <a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://transitionus.org/resources/presentations" rel="nofollow">http://transitionus.org/resources/presentations</a></p> David MacLeod asked a couple…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-12:2723460:Comment:505182011-05-12T03:11:14.213ZTris Shirleyhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/TrisShirley
<p>David MacLeod asked a couple of important questions that were stimulated by a comment on my blog. I'm replying here just to keep the ARC discussion all in one place. </p>
<p>He asked: Do you envision the ARC as a 'How To' manual?</p>
<p>The answer is "Yes", but it is both a "What To" and a "How To" manual - except of course that it is dynamic and somewhat interactive rather than static as a conventional printed manual would be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why would speculation and discussion about…</p>
<p>David MacLeod asked a couple of important questions that were stimulated by a comment on my blog. I'm replying here just to keep the ARC discussion all in one place. </p>
<p>He asked: Do you envision the ARC as a 'How To' manual?</p>
<p>The answer is "Yes", but it is both a "What To" and a "How To" manual - except of course that it is dynamic and somewhat interactive rather than static as a conventional printed manual would be.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Why would speculation and discussion about theory be inappropriate for the ARC?</p>
<p>I strongly favor discussions about theory and reasoned speculation. I'm proposing we do just that in my blog. But my suggestion for the ARC is to keep it focused on providing practical (and eventually proven) techniques for enhancing resilience. IMHO, the ARC should not be seen as the single, all encompassing solution for TW's communication needs. We can and should undertake other initiatives.</p>
<p>For example, if there are enough other people interested in working up some future economic scenarios, to pick an arbitrary example ;-), we should find a convenient place to do that. It could be here on the ning site, in Google Docs, in another Wiki, or wherever people think will work best. </p>
<p>We might want to evaluate some of the practical techniques in the ARC on the basis of our economic scenarios at some point, but the two need not be coordinated during development. And therefore there is no reason I can see to have them in the same place.</p>
<p>We can always pull certified lesson from the ARC and comnbine them with other material to produce a more comprehensive view of Transition if and when we need to.</p> We have a good start to a dis…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-12:2723460:Comment:503312011-05-12T00:19:55.738ZKyler Boyeshttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/KylerBoyes
<p>We have a good start to a discussion here. Here are some ideas:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>People who might be interested in contributing to this Wiki would need to know what the expectations and requirements are for becoming an ARC Contributor. Some people will very easily grasp the Wiki's needs in terms of ARC Contributions. Although there will be varying degrees of understanding and ability in those that wish to be contributors. One suggestion for the first set of contributions to the ARC…</p>
<p>We have a good start to a discussion here. Here are some ideas:</p>
<p> </p>
<p>People who might be interested in contributing to this Wiki would need to know what the expectations and requirements are for becoming an ARC Contributor. Some people will very easily grasp the Wiki's needs in terms of ARC Contributions. Although there will be varying degrees of understanding and ability in those that wish to be contributors. One suggestion for the first set of contributions to the ARC Repository, which if successful could become the first "certified" lesson is: <strong>A guide for becoming an ARC Contributor</strong>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Related to this thought stream is the question: What is the appropriate response to those individuals who want to be ARC Contributors but have not met the requirements for becoming an ARC Contributor? I will not propose to know how to answer this question now, but surely it is important.</p> Tris, I hope your proposal go…tag:transitionwhatcom.ning.com,2011-05-11:2723460:Comment:506702011-05-11T22:27:11.391ZPeter Holcombhttps://transitionwhatcom.ning.com/profile/PeterHolcomb
Tris, I hope your proposal goes through as you state it. The "lesson" idea will be especially valuable as people actually try to descend from dependence on commercial energy, not just discuss it. I hope to be able to contribute a lesson when the machinery to do so is in place.
Tris, I hope your proposal goes through as you state it. The "lesson" idea will be especially valuable as people actually try to descend from dependence on commercial energy, not just discuss it. I hope to be able to contribute a lesson when the machinery to do so is in place.