Communicating Ecosystem Services Using Collaborative Learning and Mental
Models
Christine Feurt Ph. D.Director, Center for Sustainable CommunitiesUniversity of New England, Biddeford, Maine Director, Coastal Training ProgramWells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Wells, Maine
Membership MeetingWashington, D.C.September 23, 2015
“A framework and set of techniques intended for multiparty decision situations… A means of designing and implementing a series of events to promote:
Creative thought, Constructive debate and the
Effective implementation of proposals that the stakeholders generate.”
Theoretical Grounding: Systems Thinking, Conflict Resolution, Adult Learning
Working Through Environmental ConflictThe Collaborative Learning Approach By Steven E. Daniels and Gregg B. Walker (2001)
Collaborative Learning Offers a Robust Framework for Designing Communications to Sustain Ecosystem Services
Chris Feurt’s 20 page practitioners guide
It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble.
It's what you know for sure that just ain't so.
Mark Twain
Mental Models
The traditional “Delivery” Mental Model of Communication to Foster Change
Water isThreatened
Coastal Trainers
ProvideScience-based
Knowledge
Municipal Decisions Contribute to Threats to Water
MunicipalActions with
Outcomes forProtecting
Water
Public WorksCode Officer Planning Board
?
Mental Models are a Double Edged Sword
Mental models are a simplified representation of the world used by people to interpret observations, infer from what is known to unknown and solve problems.
Mental models are implicit and operate below the level of consciousness.
Mental models that are shared within a culture or social group are cultural models. People organize their culture’s beliefs and values with cultural models. They facilitate within group communication but can act as barriers to inter-group communication.
Three Mental Models to Guide Communication about Ecosystem Services
Understanding Stakeholders is Fundamental
"Americans think the opposite of speaking is waiting to speak"
What I learned from listening to water managers in southern Maine
Why is water important? What are threats to water? What can be done to
protect water?
Water Ecosystem Services Are Valued
The Kaleidoscope of ExpertiseMultiple lenses of professional practice with a core of shared values =
Collaborative Potential
Citizen &
Business
Watershed
Stewardship
Regulations,
Ordinances &
Enforcement
Engineering &
Public Works
Planning &
Land Use
Management
Education &
Community
Outreach
Science: Water
Research &
Monitoring
Drinking/Source
Water Protection
Land
ConservationCLEAN WATER
FOR:
Our Children’sFuture
EconomicDevelopment
Public Health & Safety
Farming, Fishing, Recreation
Wildlife & WildlifeHabitat
PropertyValues
7 Ways of KnowingA Knowledge Resource for Collaborative Learning
Governance(GOV)
Science(SCI)
Local(LOC)
Ecological(ECO)
EducationalPractices
(EDU)
Technological(TEC)
Land Use(LAN)
Knowledge
Multiple Ways of Knowing are activated in dialogues to create shared
meanings
Town Planner
Scientist
EcologicalKnowledge
Public Works Director
EducationalPractices
Knowledge
ScienceKnowledge
LocalKnowledge
GovernanceKnowledge
Land UseKnowledge
Land UseKnowledge
TechnologicalKnowledge
LocalKnowledge
Understanding the system transforms the traditional “Delivery” Mental Model
of Education/Outreach/Communication
Water isThreatened
Coastal Trainers
ProvideScience-based
Knowledge
Municipal Decisions Contribute to Threats to Water
MunicipalActions with
Outcomes forProtecting
Water
Public WorksCode Officer Planning Board
?
Collaborative Learning designs events to engage the Kaleidoscope of Expertise as a Resource not a Receptacle
ECO
Water isThreatened Water is Valued
SCI
LAN
TEC
GOVEDU
LOC
Planning& Land Use
LandConservation
Drinking H2O
Research & Monitoring
Education &Outreach
Regs &Enforcement
Engineering &Public Safety
Citizen Stewardship
Water isProtected
APPLICATION TO POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
BestManagement
Practices
Adaptation Plans
Habitat Restoration
PRODUCTS OF SCIENCE
Data
Models
Ecosystem Assessments
GIS Databases
Collaborative learning provides a bridge connecting the“products” of science and the “work” of policy & management
16
Collaborative Learning
Applying Social Science Tools
StakeholderAnalysis
InstitutionalAnalysis
CulturalAnalysis
Collaborative Learning
PerceptualBarriers
InstitutionalBarriers
DisciplinaryBarriers
Collaborative Learning focuses on the Social LandscapeThat influences the Biophysical Landscape
We’re All in the Same Boat
Collaborative Learning Trainings Developed for Practitioners
Working Together to Get Things DoneTrainings delivered nationwide to NERRS 2012-2015
Graduate Research SeminarsUndergraduate CoursesQualitative Research Methods Course Webinar Archived on Wells NERR website
Communicating Ecosystem ServicesACES Conference December 2014
Bridging the GulfsTwo-day Stakeholder Engagement training:
To Learn More about Ecosystem ServicesCollaborative Learning Projects
Wells National Estuarine Research ReserveCoastal Training Program
www.wellsreserve.org
National Estuarine Research Reserve Associationhttp://www.nerra.org/how-we-work/collaborative-research/
Salmon Falls Watershed Collaborativehttp://www.prep.unh.edu/sfwc.htm
University of New England Center for Sustainable Communities
Saco River Estuary Projecthttp://www.une.edu/sacoriver wellsreserve.org/saco
Collaborative Learning Guide and Training Workbookhttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Christine_Feurt
“Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awaken people's curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good inflammable stuff, it will catch fire.”
Rachel Carson