Learning Ecosystems: An Emerging Praxis For The Future Of Education

The increasingly complex and interdependent environmental, social, economic, and cultural challenges facing humanity within our biosphere indicate a clear need for societal transformation toward viable and life affirming futures. Learning ecosystems have the potential to unite diverse stakeholders in collective learning for mutually beneficial outcomes that lead toward desired futures for humanity and all life on Earth. Throughout this report diverse case studies reflect emerging approaches to the co-development of learning ecosystems from around the world inspired and influenced by the fields of biology, ecology, social movements, technology, cosmology, design, innovation, systems leadership and more. This research also builds upon the 2018 Global Education Futures report “Educational Ecosystems for Societal Transformation”. The insights reflected in this report explore (1) the skills, knowledge, and ways of being that support life-long and self-directed learning, (2) approaches to ecosystemic learning, and (3) how educational systems can support collective flourishing, shifting our global society toward long-term resilience and thriving. Learning ecosystems are emerging as an interdisciplinary response to the increasing complexity of the 21st century at a time when humanity is changing the very trajectory of evolution on Earth, and needing to reckon with our choices to date as a species. Learning ecosystems offer a potential praxis for the future of education that can profoundly shift the way we learn and shape our future together for collective liberation.