An ecology of mind: teaching – learning complex systems

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show how to enact a Batesonian system to teaching an ecology of mind course.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach develops a practical framework for teaching with examples of teaching approaches and student work.

Findings

The overarching approach involves a depth-abstraction-abduction model. This model was used to engage students in examining a variety of transdisciplinary phenomena with emphasis on contexts, meaning, multiple perspectives, stories, relationships and systems, patterns, and epistemology. Epistemological shocks and shifts were a common occurrence.

Originality/value

This work is unique in that it focuses on a course based upon the film: “An ecology of mind: a daughter's portrait of Gregory Bateson”.

Citation

W. Bloom, J. (2013), "An ecology of mind: teaching – learning complex systems", Kybernetes, Vol. 42 No. 9/10, pp. 1346-1353. https://doi.org/10.1108/K-09-2012-0051