How does Building Full Lives use Emergent Learning?
Emergent learning is an essential component of the Building Full Lives program at Connections.
Emergent learning is a flexible approach that relies on the participants interests and the circumstances of the day to dictate the learning content. It means staff may come with a loose plan in mind, but leaves room to allow the weather, the environment, and the participants to shape the day. The staff focus on using and asking questions to explore new ideas and new opportunities for connecting in the community. The thought is there is always a new opportunity or a new avenue to explore when you continue to ask questions (how, when, where, why) instead of settling for an answer or checking the box that you have completed an activity. When use correctly, emergent learning is a powerful process for navigating ambiguity & complexity! It means overcoming challenges, especially those that have no simple solutions, but require discipline, ongoing attention, learning through experience, and adaptation.
Jill and Wendy are two participants in the Building Full Lives program at Connections. The process of emergent learning was used with the context that Jill would like to put flowers on her parents grave. They began by asking the question of where is the cemetery. Since the location was out of town, this led to the desire to explore other places that neither Jill or Wendy had ever been.
The support staff also asked what flowers they should take. Jill and Wendy researched flowers, visited flower shops, talked with employees at the flower shops and determined which flowers would be best. This experience led to a conversation about bees. As a result, Jill and Wendy have started another journey to learn more about bees. And through the conversation about bees, Jill and Wendy talked about honey. They have endless questions about honey!
The example here is that a conversation about flowers turned into a conversation about bees and then honey. And along the way, Jill and Wendy are learning new things, experiencing new things and making new connections!
