14 - Vision and practice

Summary

Response-ability requires “change-ability” – the capability to “make a difference that makes a difference” (to employ Gregory Bateson's phrase). Whilst the key change dimension of “critique” is covered in some depth elsewhere in the book, this Change-ability section is more about the “what next” – vision and practice. The limited space of one chapter precludes in-depth discussion of the important topic of systemic change. Rather, some ideas and frameworks are shown that have been used by practitioners to good effect. They are presented here together with some commentary to help stimulate thought, encourage the development of strategies for change, and assist action.

Vision without action is useless. But action without vision does not know where to go or why to go there. Vision is absolutely necessary to guide and motivate action. More than that, vision, when widely shared and firmly kept in sight, brings into being new systems.

Meadows, Meadows & Randers (1992: 224)

The next generation, who have the most to lose from environmental breakdown, urgently need the knowledge and tools to bring about positive change.

UNEP (2022:18)

THE CHANCE FOR CHANGE

Along with others, I have long argued that radical systemic change is needed in educational paradigm, purpose, policy and practice if education is to be rendered fit for our precarious times. For change agents, the greatest challenge is reconciling the need for rapid change with the weight of current educational momentum, and squaring urgency with practicability. Yet much is already happening globally – and the pace and reach of such positive change appears to be accelerating with new networks and initiatives appearing globally. Now is the chance for change.

As an illustration, in 2021 I was invited to write the lead discussion paper for the Great Transition Initiative's forum on “The Pedagogy of Transition: Educating for the Future We Want”. The paper is Chapter 5 in this volume. It stimulated a strong response from the GTI community of scholars and practitioners: a total of 56 contributions were made, yielding more than 60,000 words of insight and keen intellectual inquiry arising from engaged hearts, deep reflection – and often – long experience. The quality and quantity of responses are indicative of the criticality and timeliness of the topic, the re-thinking beginning to flourish, and of its unequivocal relevance to the chances of securing the Great Transition in conditions of unprecedented urgency.