Embracing "Emergent Strategy" in Education

In the evolving and stressful landscape of education, sustainability and efficiency are more critical than ever. As teachers, we strive to create environments that not only foster learning but also promote well-being for both students and educators. Over the past several years, we have seen the results of policies that neglect the wellbeing of teachers and students alike and add more strain to the system. How can we make sustainable changes in the way we structure our teaching to meet the many complexities of our current moment?

To begin to delve into this topic, we can draw inspiration from activist and change maker adrienne maree brown's Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds.

brown's Emergent Strategy is a conceptual framework that draws inspiration from nature, science fiction, and social movements to envision new ways of organizing and creating change. The main idea revolves around the principles of adaptation, interdependence, and decentralized leadership. Just as ecosystems adapt and evolve through small, interconnected changes, social groups can achieve transformative outcomes by embracing flexibility, resilience, and collective action. Key elements include:

1. Fractals: Understanding that small patterns can reflect larger systemic structures and changes. Individual actions and local efforts can influence broader societal shifts. Similarly, when intervening with a student, small, precious interactions add up over time. We may not know the precious impact we had on a student until years down the line-just by showing up, building relationships, and doing our best as teachers.

2. Adaptation: A crucial skill for the 21st century is adaptation-the ability to be flexible and responsive to changing conditions, much like natural organisms that evolve and adapt to survive and thrive. COVID and its consequences have certainly shown us how true this is in our current reality.

3. Interdependence and Decentralization: Emphasizing collaborative and networked approaches rather than hierarchical structures, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and mutual support. As a consultant who worked at the school board level with a wide variety of schools, I can attest to the fact that, a bottom up solution created by a group of teachers at the school level can often have more “buy in” and therefore has more possibility to succeed.

4. Creating More Possibilities: Encouraging imagination and creativity to envision and experiment with new ways of being and organizing, inspired by speculative fiction.

5. Resilience: Building the capacity to recover and learn from setbacks, drawing strength from community and relationships.

Brown’s strategy calls for a shift in mindset towards embracing emergent, organic processes, advocating for incremental, sustainable change through intentional and interconnected efforts.

By understanding natural systems like mycelium, ants, ferns, wavicles, starlings, and dandelions, we can reimagine our classrooms, schools, and communities in ways that are both sustainable and life-affirming.

Mycelium: Building Interconnected Networks

Mycelium, the intricate fungal networks beneath our feet, offer a powerful metaphor for creating interconnected educational communities. These networks are resilient, adaptive, and collaborative, qualities we can emulate in our teaching practices.

• Collaborative Learning: Encourage students to work in groups, sharing resources and knowledge. Peer-to-peer teaching can be incredibly effective, allowing students to learn from each other and build strong academic networks.

• Teacher Collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration among teachers. Share lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies to reduce individual workload and enhance collective wisdom.

Ants: Collective Efficiency

Ants are the epitome of efficiency and teamwork, working seamlessly towards common goals. By adopting principles from ant colonies, we can create more efficient and organized educational environments.

• Task Delegation: Break down classroom tasks into smaller, manageable parts. Assign roles to students, allowing them to take ownership of different aspects of a project. This not only saves time but also teaches responsibility and teamwork.

• Structured Routines: Implement structured routines in the classroom to maximize time and minimize chaos. Clear procedures for common activities (like handing in assignments or transitioning between subjects) can streamline operations and reduce stress.

Ferns: Resilience and Adaptability

Ferns are among the oldest plant species, known for their resilience and adaptability. They thrive in diverse environments, a trait we can embrace in our teaching methodologies.

• Flexible Learning Paths: Offer multiple pathways for students to achieve learning objectives. Differentiated instruction caters to diverse learning styles and needs, making education more inclusive and effective.

• Embrace Change: Be open to experimenting with new teaching methods and technologies, such as incorporating AI tools for personalized learning experiences. Adaptability is key to staying relevant and effective in education.

Wavicles: Embracing Duality

The concept of wavicles, embodying both particle and wave characteristics, reminds us of the importance of embracing complexity and duality in our educational approach.

• Blended Learning: Integrate both traditional and digital teaching methods. Utilize AI tools to provide personalized feedback and support, while maintaining the essential human touch in education.

• Balancing Rigidity and Flexibility: Establish clear rules and expectations but remain flexible enough to accommodate individual student needs and unforeseen circumstances.

Starlings: Synchronization and Unity

Starlings’ murmurations, where thousands of birds move in harmonious synchronization, symbolize the beauty of unity and collective action.

• Community Building: Foster a strong sense of community within the classroom and school. Activities that build trust and collaboration can create a harmonious and supportive learning environment.

• Unified Goals: Align classroom activities and projects with broader school goals and values. A unified approach ensures coherence and purpose in educational efforts.

Dandelions: Prolific and Resilient

Dandelions, with their prolific seeding and resilience, illustrate the power of spreading ideas widely and adapting to various conditions.

• Spreading Knowledge: Encourage a culture of curiosity and continuous learning. Empower students to take their learning beyond the classroom, spreading knowledge within their communities.

• Resilience Building: Teach students skills that foster resilience, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence. These skills are essential for navigating an ever-changing world.

Integrating AI for Sustainability and Efficiency

Incorporating AI into these natural-inspired strategies can further enhance sustainability and efficiency:

• Personalized Learning: AI can analyze individual student performance and provide tailored learning experiences, ensuring each student receives the support they need.

• Automated Administrative Tasks: AI can handle repetitive administrative tasks like grading and attendance tracking, freeing up valuable time for teachers to focus on instruction and student engagement.

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilize AI to gather and analyze data on student performance and engagement, helping teachers make informed decisions about instructional strategies.

Conclusion

By integrating adrienne maree brown's emergent strategy principles with AI, we can create educational environments that are not only more sustainable and efficient but also more nurturing and life-affirming. Embrace the interconnectedness of mycelium, the collective efficiency of ants, the resilience of ferns, the duality of wavicles, the unity of starlings, and the resilience of dandelions to foster a thriving, sustainable educational ecosystem. Together, we can shape a future where education is a force for positive change and sustainability.