An education ecosystem is the structures and relationships that, like a biological ecosystem maintains life on earth, creates an environment that fosters learning and growth. I focused on the “what and how” of educator practice, school policies and student behavior, and the “how” we welcome and include (and how we sometimes fail.) I then consulted academic sources to understand the “why” and synthesize this information into a tool to transform ecosystems. My goal was to create a framework for an education ecosystem that:
- Relies on educator intuition and ways of knowing while strengthening and empowering,
- Clarifies the elements of inclusive environments so they can be cultivated anywhere.
- Unlocks the knowledge of voices that have been marginalized to achieve a more inclusive society
Mapping the ecosystem of belonging
Just like an ecosystem in nature, there is an environment essential to sustaining the welcome and belonging ecosystem: your welcoming environment. The vitally-important elements that sustains growth are: spaces that are welcoming, values that impact the actions and opportunities within a school community, and opportunities to care for your self and for others to create a mindfully-caring way of being. With a healthy welcoming environment, you can focus on the ecosystem's interaction of components.
Scientists see ecosystems as containing organisms that interact and abiotic components like air and water. An organism is "a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements" according to the dictionary. The complex structures in the belonging ecosystem focus on individuals connected through supportive networks, finding ways to be leaders, and learning in community. Mentorship and connection create belonging. We know, however, that the environment in which our learners thrive or struggle is more than the space they enter at the school door. Recognizing this reality, an ecosystem must include the components of individual and group storytelling and story building. Opportunities must also exist for meaning-making and thinking about the future. These components allow the school community to imagine ways to rebuild and strengthen the community beyond that school door. What constitutes the community depends on the context of the school, be it rural, urban, private, public, etc.
The final elements of the ecosystem recognize that the goal of education is for students to leave school feeling curious about the world and confident that they can play an active role as citizens, leaders, and innovators. Belonging is just as important when learners move into the larger world and the ecosystem equips them with tools for success as lifelong learners who know how to collaborate and as global citizens who seek out diverse perspectives. Teachers are role models who have a dramatic impact on a child's life. Their care, connection, and belonging is essential to a healthy ecosystem. Ensuring they feel connected builds their resilience and ensures that they have the energy to inspire and lead learners into the future.
Scientists see ecosystems as containing organisms that interact and abiotic components like air and water. An organism is "a complex structure of interdependent and subordinate elements" according to the dictionary. The complex structures in the belonging ecosystem focus on individuals connected through supportive networks, finding ways to be leaders, and learning in community. Mentorship and connection create belonging. We know, however, that the environment in which our learners thrive or struggle is more than the space they enter at the school door. Recognizing this reality, an ecosystem must include the components of individual and group storytelling and story building. Opportunities must also exist for meaning-making and thinking about the future. These components allow the school community to imagine ways to rebuild and strengthen the community beyond that school door. What constitutes the community depends on the context of the school, be it rural, urban, private, public, etc.
The final elements of the ecosystem recognize that the goal of education is for students to leave school feeling curious about the world and confident that they can play an active role as citizens, leaders, and innovators. Belonging is just as important when learners move into the larger world and the ecosystem equips them with tools for success as lifelong learners who know how to collaborate and as global citizens who seek out diverse perspectives. Teachers are role models who have a dramatic impact on a child's life. Their care, connection, and belonging is essential to a healthy ecosystem. Ensuring they feel connected builds their resilience and ensures that they have the energy to inspire and lead learners into the future.
