Epistemic Cartography: Evaluating Net-Map as a Frontline Tool for Navigating Informal Knowledge Networks

- Metelerkamp, Luke, Schiffer, Eva

Title
Epistemic Cartography: Evaluating Net-Map as a Frontline Tool for Navigating Informal Knowledge Networks
Creator
Metelerkamp, Luke
Creator
Schiffer, Eva
Subject
To be catalogued
Date Issued
2020
Date
2020
Type
text
Type
article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/10962/388009
Identifier
vital:68298
Identifier
xlink:href="https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajee/article/view/188690"
Description
Sustainability transitions are dependent on the development and diffusion of transformative skills and competencies. However, the prevailing notion that learning for sustainability transitions will be led by universities, technical colleges and other similar institutions is practically not feasible in much of the global south. Net-Map is a social network analysis tool that uses interviews and mapping to help people understand, visualise, discuss, and improve situations in which many different actors influence outcomes (Schiffer and Hauck, 2010). In response to the pressing need for new approaches to the development and diffusion of sustainability skills, this paper evaluates Net-Map’s suitability as a methodological tool for educators, knowledge brokers and students seeking to enhance the navigability of the often complex and uncharted occupational pathways they encounter. To do this, the research applied Net-Map to an emerging sustainability niche within the food system in order to map the learning pathways of successful sustainability pioneers. We found that Net-Map was helpful in identifying diffuse informal knowledge networks and teaching resources. Being free, quick to learn and easy to use, Net-Map is a potentially low-cost method for circumventing traditionally costly approaches to curriculum development and accreditation – assisting community-based actors to make sense of the informal knowledge and competency networks that support emerging career fields. In emerging career fields such as organic farming, where pioneer knowledge is fragmented, poorly documented and often disregarded by mainstream-science, Net-Map could be useful in the preparatory phase of curriculum planning and design, providing training designers, course conveners and facilitators with contextually informed insights.
Format
computer
Format
online resource
Format
application/pdf
Format
1 online resource (22 pages)
Format
pdf
Publisher
Southern African Journal of Environmental Education
Language
English
Relation
Southern African Journal of Environmental Education
Relation
Metelerkamp, L. and Schiffer, E., 2020. Epistemic Cartography: Evaluating Net-Map as a Frontline Tool for Navigating Informal Knowledge Networks. Southern African Journal of Environmental Education, 36
Relation
Southern African Journal of Environmental Education volume 36 p. 73 2020 2411-5959
Rights
Publisher
Rights
Use of this resource is governed by the terms and conditions of Southern African Journal of Environmental Education Copyright and Permissions Statement (https://www.ajol.info/index.php/sajee)
Rights
Open Access
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RU DST/NRF SARChI for Global Change Social Learning Systems Development: Transformative Learning and Green Skills Learning (ELRC)
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