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[prepared for the British Permaculture
Designers' Teachers' Handbook. Chris Dixon. 11/97]
OBSERVATION.
Practical exercise
Brief introduction about importance of observation in relation to site/system
analysis and "working with nature" (got to know what she's up to first by observation).
Distinction between random observation and thematic observation raised.
Observation broadened to include other senses, (sound, smell, taste etc.).
Practical 1.
Small groups sent off to generate sets of random observations.
- 15-20 minutes for 5-10 random observations.
- Groups return and observations are collated
on white/black board
- Observations have to be examined as to whether
they contain implicit assumptions
- Assumptions get stripped out- only pure observations
allowed; e.g.. "there are rabbit droppings
on the path" becomes "there are droppings on the path."
- Observations may generate speculations; "maybe
the droppings are rabbit droppings?"
- Observations may begin to group themselves,
i.e.. some will be obviously related.
Practical 2.
- Small groups sent off to make thematic observations
(e.g.. droppings or rabbits)
- Observations collated in the same way.
- Speculations/hypotheses can be generated from
the observations.
- Further observations or small scale experiments
can then be designed and conducted.
- Results of experiments can be observed leading
to conclusions or further speculation, observation etc.
Practical 3
- An observation book/sheet/ board can be maintained
throughout the course
- Course members can be encouraged to note random
observations within/on it
- The observations can be speculated upon and
grouped a number of times during the course
- (Peoplecare stuff tends to come out of this
one)
[the basic ideas for this came from the Bill Mollison course at Ragman's Lane
Farm, spring 1991.]
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