Ecosystem: A complex set of relationships of living organisms functioning as a unit
and interacting with their physical environment.
Ecosystems
www.ndma.gov.pk/Publications/Terminology_Disaster%20Risk%20Reduction.doc
Learning
Individuals as consumers and producers within a learning organisation
Definitions
Take a look at the biological definition of ecosystem:
“a system formed by the interaction of a community of
organisms with their physical environment”
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“A complex set of relationships of living organisms
functioning as a unit and interacting with their physical
environment.”
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“All of the factors that allow a healthy environment to
function; the complex relationships among an area's
resources, habitats and residents. An ecosystem may include
people, wildlife, fish, trees, water and several other living and
non-living elements.”
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Components
Taking these definitions as a starting point, what we have then
are three components that make up an ecosystem:
1. discrete organisms, each of which is trying to meet its
core functions: eat, reproduce and breath
2. the physical environment within which the organisms
carry out those core functions
3. the complex relationships between the organisms, each
other and the environment
Roles
In a biological ecosystem, every organism plays an essential
part. It's impossible for one organism to go it alone. Similarly
in a learning ecosystem, every individual has a role. Just as in
biology, every organism is a consumer as well as a producer,
so in a learning ecosystem every individual's contribution is
important for real learning and thus real change to happen.
In a "controlled" ecosystem, like a garden, the gardener has
certain objectives which s/he tries to meet by making careful
changes to the system. They may add in a particular organism
that has a certain place in the food chain - maybe producing
beneficial chemicals or removing unwanted organisms. Or
they may change the environment, perhaps increasing
nutrients, changing the temperature, or protecting particular
organisms from harm.
A human organisation has all these characteristics. Managers
act as the gardener. Absolute control is impossible, but by
making tweaks to particular relationships, individuals or the
work environment the organisation can be pushed along
particular paths.
In a learning ecosystem, the objective is to induce change to
behaviours that meets the overall organisational objectives.
Again, forcing people to change is nigh-on impossible. The
Learning & Development team can only provide the
conditions in which change is more likely.
 How much can you control
what your learners learn in What needs to be in
your environment? place for an ecosystem
approach to work?

Content creation tools

There is a mass of tools (both
free and paid for) all designed to
help normal people articulate
things; to express what they know
easily and quickly.
This might include: video editing,
mind-mapping, audio, diagrams,
quizzes and photo-manipulation.
Systems/infrastructure
Consumers need clear navigation,
excellent searching, links to re-
lated items, simple feedback
mechanisms.
Learning Ecosystems and Communities of Practice Producers need barrier-free
contribution process.
There's probably very little difference between a learning ecosystem and Etienne
Wenger's definition of a Community of Practice: Organisations need usage
statistics, low overhead user
“Communities of practice are groups of people who share a concern or a passion
for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly.” management.

http://www.ewenger.com/theory/ Culture

We use the term learning ecosystem as it helps to illustrate the organic, Recognize that most people know
uncontrollable nature of such systems and communities, and the need for individuals something already. Understand
to take both producer and consumer roles. It's a useful analogy that people can that people only really learn when
hook ideas onto. they want and/or need to.

To really dig into the idea of people learning together in communities/ecosystems, 100% perfect every time is
you need to read Wenger's work. Or, at least, first of all read his vignette of life in a unlikely.
claims processing centre at http://bit.ly/5ah3Uv We trust each other.

Why use a learning ecosystem approach? Sharing information is OK;

hoarding information is
In today’s organisations, requiring multi-skilled people able to adapt to rapid change
unforgivable.
there is often too much to learn too quickly. Organisations need to respond
instantly to change. Skills and competence
It’s too costly to produce “courses” and they’re out-of-date before they reach the Basic skills: Typing, writing for an
learner. audience, speaking clearly,
By encouraging involvement in adapting to change, individuals will then become presenting information using
more engaged in the change process. graphics and images, story-telling

Modern learning theories propose that people learn better from others, rather than Advanced skills: Information
just being treated as empty boxes into which we can force knowledge. seeking, information retrieval,
analysis, synthesis, reflection

Contact the authors:

mark.berthelemy@capita.co.uk patrick@delearn.net
07799 408026 07906 452939
Skype: mark_berthelemy Skype: brockleypaddy
Twitter: berthelemy Twitter: fromepaddy
http://www.learningconversations.co.uk http://www.delearn.net