Need for this design:

 

The diploma in Applied Permaculture Design is a self-directed learning journey over a minimum of two years. To help guide this many diploma apprentices create their own unique 'Action Learning Pathway' which outlines aims & goals they hope to achieve, themes or areas they wish to focus their work on & the ways & means they intend to do that!

The 'Action' part comes from the intention to use a 'learning by doing' approach rather than just theoretical learning. Generally a diploma apprentice does ten designs, and builds the quality of their work by reflecting on each one as they go along.

 

When I began my Diploma journey 4 years ago, I made a very sketchy outline of a learning pathway. This mainly illustrated my aspirations at that time. Over the next two years I reflected on this a number of times & adapted it where necesary (which was alot!).

 

Now, on the homeward stretch, I am hoping to accredit this year. I thought that revisiting my ALP would be worthwhile & might help me to move forward towards the accreditation.

Looking at my original pathway notes from this vantage point, I can see that there were gaping holes in the design process. It was more a 'to do' list than a permaculture design. It did not really illustrate Permaculture Design in action and was also not particularly helpful to me either in learning design skills or keeping me motivated.

 

The irony of the ALP design is that while it affects the whole two years or more of your diploma journey it is most likely going to be the least well designed! 

 

So I decided to 're-jig' my Action Learning Pathway to help get me from a straggling (& struggling!) diploma apprentice to a fully fledged Certified Permaculture Design Diploma holder. Here goes....