bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines
TRANSCRIPT
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 1/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 1 of 22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines
© Jeffrey W. Bloom, 1999
*** Please note that a version of this paper will be submitted for publication. ***
Patterns that onnect! "ethin#in$ our %pproach to &earnin$ and 'eachin$
Jeffrey W. Bloom
enter for ()cellence in (ducation
orthern %ri+ona niversity
-la$staff, % /011
2345 3467003 or 8eff.bloomnau.edu
Paper presented at the annual meetin$ of the %merican (ducational "esearch
%ssociation, :ontreal, %pril, 1999
;"%-'
Please do <' cite without permission.
omments and =uestions are welcomed.
Science and science education, and for that matter schooling in general, are situated in the
midst of the problems of living in a postmodern world. Broadl spea!ing, postmodernism involves "...the social construction of realit which relativi#es claims to !nowledge and
authorit$ multiple realities, multiple goals, and diverse evaluation criteria..." %S&'() *
+/ , 1, . 23. urthermore, such a perspective of our current cultural conte5t sees an
increasing fra$mentation of #nowled$e and of the way we approach problems. Such
fra$mentation is evident in the modernist perspective of past decades, upon which our
scientific communities have been built. &odernist perspectives are based on positivist,
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 2/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 2 of 22
reductionist, and mechanistic approaches, as well as "...the premise that dealing with realit
as a set of technical fragments will inevitabl produce moral, aesthetic, and scientific
progress for the human race" % '7/ , 18, . 3. )owever, as liver suggests in reflecting
on +9:/ /;<=S +/: , the modernist approach has resulted in numerous pathologies,
including environmental destruction, and a host of other "bi#arre human behavior" %pp. 8-3.
> +)9( 9/ S& () 9()?'S 9/(@ +)< A ()< &9((/ )+ ;9C B9A
9/( )9/& DS@ &'S 9CA () 9'D/ () B9D)9DS 9S()('; 'C ;/9('C? '79B
S9;S, 7S ;/9(S&9C 9CA +/'?)(, 9CA E99CS 9S()(';S )D&9C S;9 9CA
/;('C F ?regor Bateson %1G3 pointed to this situation of increasing patholog in
terms of adaptation of both the biological world and of human societies -- adaptation leads
to increasing speciali#ation resulting in patholog. >() 9()?< ;9C B SC 'C ()
/9?&C(9('C 9S ;&&DC';9('C B;&S &/ +/D, 9S () /9'(< ()9(
+ S)9/ ;&&C 'C(/S(S B;&S &/ ?9/'C?< '&/(9C( ( D/ +B'C?
9CA SD/7'79, /;S ()9( /9?&C( 9+9/CSS 9CA DCA/S(9CA'C? 9/
9()?';9, 9S + 9S 9C< 9;(/S ()9( 'CS/( &'SDCA/S(9CA'C? / ADS'C %/9?9CA93F 9s our own speciali#ed worlds focus increasingl upon a narrower view, we
lose a sense of panoramic awareness, of how our view fits into the whole. Patholo$y arises
as we feel separated and disconnected from our worlds. We fall into patterns of
relationships which are 2a5 anta$onistic or 2b5 controllin$ and submissive.
>9()?';9 :C+A? /AD;S 9()?';9 /9('CS)'S )S(' 9CAH/
'(9('7, AS(/D;('7 D/ C7'/C&C(S, (;.F Bateson %1G3 refers to these
patterns of pathologic relationships as smmetrical %e.g., individuals in competition for
being in control or being "right"3 and complementar %e.g., one individual in control and the
other submissive3. Both of these patterns of relationship tend to promote cascading effects
of separation.
>Aestructive or IpathologicalJ effects of speciali#ation
(his paper addresses contemporar %i.e., postmodern3 concerns with the disintegration of
meaning and fragmentation of !nowledge. 9s we continue to move towards increased
speciali#ation and separation of disciplines, people are becoming increasingl disconnected
%a3 to the broad connecting conceptions within disciplines, %b3 to the patterns that bridge
disciplines, %c3 to the natural world, and %d3 to each other. 9 potential remed -- based on the
wor! of ?regor Bateson and &ar ;atherine Bateson -- for providing a wa to develop
such connections will be e5plored. Such a remed is founded on the framewor! of "patterns
that connect" %Bateson, 1G3. 'n the present paper, the discussion of such patterns is
situated within the conte5t of a view of learning that is based on non-linearit of thought
processes and on variation as both a source and outcome of our thin!ing %Bloom, 199/>
apra, 19903. (his view of learning %including "patterns that connect"3 leads to %a3 more
cohesive and elaborate understandings, %b3 an emphasis on meaning rather than
deconte5tuali#ed content, >on the fact that + /'C; () +/A C( 9S
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 3/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 K of 22
A'S;CC;(A BE;(S 9CA 7C(S BD( 'C &('79(A +9<S, 'C (/&S
/(DC'('S 9CA ()/9(S, 'C (/&S ;&&DC'('S, 'C (/&S 9((/CS
&9C'C?S F %c3 an emphasis on creativit, %d3 a greater sense of connection to the learner=s
world, and %e3 the development of a sense of ownership over what is learned. >()'S 'S 9
+/C? (/& 'C S& +9<S, ()D?) () 'A9 <W("?@AP 'S 9S 9C;'C( 9S () 'A9
-%A"(??
() 9/C/ ( '%( "(?P<?ABA&A'C / +)9( 'S 9/CA F
>+)9( +J/ 9BD(
+)9( +J/ D/SD'C?
'S '/S( ( /;?C'L ()9( ()/ 'S 9 9((/C ()9( ;CC;(S C( &/< ()9(
()/ 9/ 9((/CS ()9( 9/ ;CC;('C?
BD( ()9( ()/ 'S 9 :'CA 7/9 ;CC;(ACSS / G ESTALT MD9'(< ( 9
D/ /'C;S
( 'CA ()9( 9((/C, ( AS;/'B '(( S)+ )+ +)9( + ()'C: 9S I9/(J 9CA )97 9+A ( B S9/9(A D(
/& A9'< ', ( B;& 9/( () S9/9('C 9B/ ()9( &9:S /AD;('C &/ ';'C( 9CA /'(9B
BD( +)';) )9S /AD;A () S9('S9;(/'CSS ' @@
()9( ()'S S9/9('C )9S ;S( DS ()9( SCS ;CC;(ACSS ()9( 'S
SSC('9 ( A7'C? D< )D&9C 'AC('(<
()9( () I;&&C &9CJ SCS +)9( 9/( 'S 9CA S)DA B %() '&DS (
A;/9( () +9S 9CA ( 9'C( C ;)'C93 'S ;S/ ( () /9'(< ()9C &9C<
() 'CSD9/ 9CA S(/'; 9/9;)S ()9( )97 /(CAA ( I79(J () 9/(S
/ 9/('S(S
() E99CS 9(('(DA 'S &/ 9//'9( ()9( S:' 9CA :C+A? 9/ 79D9B TO THE COMMUNITY 9CA ()9( ()<
9/ /SCS'B''('S 'C ()&S7S, S ()9( 'CA'7'AD9S S:'A 'C (/9A'('C9
9/(S 9/ 79DA 9CA /S;(A 9S REPOSITORIES :C+A?-S:'
7C () S9/9('C I:C+A?J /& IS:'SJ 'S /'A';DDS
'CS(9A A7'C? 9 HUMAN 'AC('(<, + IDENTIFY +'() +)9(7/ 'S
)9CA< 9 S/(S (9&, 9 (7 S)+, 9 ;D(D/9 ;9(?/< % C(//CD/ , C/A,
9(/'(, S;)9/ , (;.3
() ;//D('C 'AC('(< B< ;CSD&/'S&
9/( 9S 9 +9< ( /;CC;( +)9( ;&S DC;CC;(A
onte)t of Postmodern &ife
Science education, even with its "reforms," still maintains a strong base in modernist
paradigms. ?oals and obNectives focus on the acOuisition of conceptual content within
narrow areas of speciali#ation. (he approach is a linear one, with hopes of progress and
technical solutions to the problems facing our world. )owever, the whole notion of progress
is Ouestionable. ven ?ould %163 finds our notions of human progress to be curious.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 4/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 4 of 22
9lthough biological evolution is not progressive, >()/JS 9 /'& 9& 9C
DC(S(A 9CA DC/7C 9SSD&('CPP Q 9CA C B'A B< () 7'AC;, +)';)
S)+S /?/SS (+9/A 'C;/9S'C? ;&'(< 9CA 'C('?C; () :'CA
/?/SS C SS 'C SYSTEMS WHICH LEARN F human societies have the potential to change
in was that are progressive, >)D&9C ;&&DC'('S )97 () (C('9 ( 9/C
S;'C; 9CA (;), ?/9AD9 D(9+'C? S97/<--BD( &9C< A C(P@P@ +)9( /;S (/C9 / ;C(/9A';('CS 'C(/C9 /S'S( 9/C'C? B<
;&&DC'('S@ 93 C9(D/9 ;CS/79('S& 9CA /ADCA9C;< +)9( ?( DS )/ 'S
+/:'C?, ACJ( (/< ( ' +)9( 9'CJ( B/:$ B3 'C(/S(S '(S, I/9;('C9/<
&C(SJ$ ;3 +'D '?C/9C;, () 9SS'C ( NOT KNOW Q BD/SF but the
evidence of our "progress" is mar!ed b a rather dubious record of achievement. 'n addition,
science education has alwas and continues to isolate and distance itself from other
disciplines and other was of !nowing. Such isolationism continues to fragment our
understandings of the world, to disconnect children from their own was of !nowing, and to
disconnect them from their worlds.
'n general, children face man conflicting messages from societ, >SS ()
;&&DC'(<-B'CA'C? DC;('CS 9/(, /'(D9 9CA &<()P /9;A 'C 9/( B< (7
S)+S IA'A <D S T RUE D ETECTIVE @JF including those of fractionated !nowledge and
views of the world. >+) / +)9( BC'(S@ 93 7/<BA< +)S &9(/'9 S(9CA9/A
'7'C? 'S '&/7A ' S'( 'C 9 ;9C, ;'&9(-;C(/A 99/(&C( +'()
;(/'; '?)('C? (<'C? C 9 9(, +'() 9;;SS ( () 'C(/+B$ B3 ()
'CS('(D('CS 9CA '(S ()9( (9: () ;/9&RF 'n the west, especiall in the Dnited
States where individual rights are paramount, children are sociali#ed towards the cultural
values of separateness %i.e., individualit3 and autonom. )owever, when the enter schoolthe find that these values are no longer valid. 9s &ar ;atherine Bateson %143 observes,
"... what an e5traordinar thing it is that in a societ where we regard the self as central,
>()'S AA /9?&C(9('C BC'(S () /;S ;//9( /AD;('C 9CA '(
/'(S 9( () CS 9&''S 9CA ;&&DC'('SF we are so often engaged in
silencing its e5pression or putting confidence at ris!" %p. 6G3. >()9( 'S 9 (C A;(% ()9(
()/ 9/ /;S 'C 9/( AD;9('C ()9( 9/ SD/SS'C? () ;C'AC;
;)'A/C 'C ()'/ +C 'C(/C9 SCS B99C; 9CA 79'A'(< () 'CC9(
/'&9( SCS 9'/CSS, / 'CS(9C;.F (he learning that children do outside of class
in their families and neighborhoods %e.g., self-sufficienc, beliefs, cultural and societal
mores, conceptual understandings, processes and procedures, etc.3 are reOuired to be left
outside the door to their schools. B demanding conformit and obedience, schools
contradict children=s learning from the societ in general. Aemocratic ideals are e5changed
for the corporate agenda of efficienc, conformit, and obedience %+ood, 103. >A +
+9C( ( (9: 9BD( ()'S MDS('C /)9S 9BD( () 'C(/C9< ;C(/9A';(/<
C9(D/ IAD;9('C9 S<S(&SJ 'C ?C/9@@
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 5/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 of 22
;9C + 'CS(9A AD;9( / ;/9('7'(<, /'S: , DC'MDCSS, 9CA COOPERATION @
urthermore, this whole notion of separateness of individuals and isolation of disciplines
contributes to the propagation of a blindness to the whole - to the comple5ities and
interconnectedness of the conte5ts in which we live and wor!. >D DC(' /;C(<, 9
';(D/ () +) +9S C( 979'9BPP %+) 9/() ;9(9? '/S( ';(D/
() 9/() 9S 9 +)PP3 BD( ()/ 9/ CD&/DS /;S &''(9('C? 9?9'CS( ()'S
9+9/CSS R ;C';('C? 'C(/S(S, 9CA ()S +)S 'C(/S(S 9/ 'C ?C/9('C?
;C';(..F 9s autonomous individuals, we ma find it difficult to see patterns that connect
us to our worlds, because of a focus on our own needs, on our own agendas. 'n the same
wa, disciplinar isolation fails to recogni#e patterns that connect across disciplines and
across was of !nowing. ?regor Bateson %personal communication, Eune G, 1G3
suggested that schools "obscure the vast dar!ness of the subNect" b attempting to be
obNective, while ignoring the conte5t in which a phenomenon occurs or an obNect is situated.
or e5ample, children studing fish in an aOuarium ma be reOuired to record observationsin a rather "obNective" wa, while not paing attention to the entire conte5t or conte5ts. 'n
addition, both Stephen Ea ?ould %163 and ?regor Bateson point to our difficulties in
seeing the comple5ities of phenomena b concentrating on abstractions, such as those used
in statistical analses of human or animal behavior %Bateson >1GF refers to such analses
as obscuring the vast dar!ness of the subNect3. 'n other words, our learning tends to be
deconte5tuali#ed and, therefore, lac!s meaning.
>+ 9+9<S 9/9;) 9/( +'() ()'S ;& / ;?< ;C((S BD( +
&9< C( B + 9+9/ '( ' D/ 79/'DS 9/9;)S 9/ /9?&C(A, C(
9+9/ 9;) ()/ , 'C 9C(9?C'S('; /9('CS)'S, ()C D/ 'C(/9;('CS +'() 9/(+/:S +' C( B 9S &9C'C?D 9S ()< ;DA B
+ CA ( 9B/9( 9 ;C;( &9C'C? 9( S& 'C(
C 9/9;) ;DA DS B9(SCJS 'A9S 13 9 A'/C; ()9( &9:S 9
A'/C; () A'/C; 9 A'/C; &9:S
'C () )<S';9 +/A ()/ 9/ A'/C;S, BD( C< 'C () B'?';9
+/A AS 9 A'/C; MAKE A DIFFERENCE
23 9 9((/C ()9( ;CC;(S ;. +)9( 'S () A'/C; B(+C ()
)<S';9 +/A /&9, +)/ /;S 9CA '&9;(S /7'A SD';'C( B9S'S
9C9('C, 9CA () CREATURA, +)/ C()'C? ;9C B DCA/S(A DC(' DIFFERENCES 9CA DISTINCTIONS 9/ 'C7:A @ B9(SC, MIND AND NATURE 'C(/
>+ ;9C (9;) D/S7S 9CA ()/S ( B SCS'('7 ( () /9('CS
;C(( 'C )+ + 9/9;) 9/( ( 9 () ()'C?S 'C DS 9CA 'C () C7'/C&C(
()9( MAKE A DIFFERENCE 'C )+ + /'C; 9CA 'C(//( '(@
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 6/22
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 7/22
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 8/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 8 of 22
:< 'A9 TTT +)C 9/ + 'C(/9;('C? +'() /9'(<, 9CA +)C 9/ +
'C(/9;('C? C< +'() ()/ JS 9C(9S'S 9BD( /9'(<@@ Q () 'A9 'S ()9(
S& 9/( ;9C /(D/C DS ( /9'(< 'C S& 9S;( / ()/ %)D&9C%3 /SCSS3,
+)' ()/ 9/( ;9C A'S/D( ()9( /;SS ;)9C?S B(+C 'C(/C9 9CA
(/C9 /9&S /9'(<, 'C(/AD;'C? A<SDC;('C9 &C(S 'C( B()
C () ?/'S / ;:+ )'S 9'C('C?S ;9C B SC 9S
I/9;('C9/<J BD( ()< 'C 9;( ;B/9( ?CD'C )D&9C'(<, ?CD'C 7'/(DS
'n essence, these two models of living sstems and social sstems describe self-sustaining,
comple5 networ!s, >A<C9&'; S<S(&S DS'C? AB9;: S 9CA S-
AD;9('CH9/C'C? /;SSSF in which the relationships among components of sstems
emerge as interdependent patterns -- as patterns that connect . Based on the previous
discussion, e5amples of such patterns appear to fall into three categories %a3 patterns that
connect in living sstems, %b3 patterns that connect in phsical sstems, and %c3 patterns that
connect in social sstems. 9t the same time, the contrasting positions between &aturana andBateson set up a division between %a3 patterns that connect as ontological descriptions of
emergent phenomena %i.e., descriptions of the nature of the phsical, biological, and social
world3 and %b3 patterns that connect as epistemological descriptions of phenomena %i.e., the
nature of !nowledge about, or even contained in %T3 >9C()/ )D? :< 'A9 ()9(
:C+A? 'S ;C(9'CA 'C 9 :'CAS S<S(&'; ;C((S, 9 :'CAS /;SSS
C;A 7D('C9/<, ;D(D/9 9CA 'CA'7'AD9 9/C'C? BD( ()9( () 9/C'C?
/;SS 'S 'C;&(, () ;C((S S&+)9( 9A ); 'C &S( ;9SSF, the phsical,
biological, and social world3.
rom the perspectives of Bateson and &aturana, we can distinguish two basic was of"viewing" patterns that connect %a3 as emergent, ontological patterns and %b3 as descriptive,
epistemological patterns. >+(PP +)< 9/CJ( + 9SSD&'C? 9 DC''A 'A, 9CA
:'C? 9( )+ S)'('C? /& C I7'+J ( 9C()/ /79S IA()J 'C ()
9((/CS + 9/ 7'+'C?@PUTVWVTUPPP3. mergent patterns are active processes that are
ta!ing place in real time, at the moment. +e can be active participants in such processes. n
the other hand, descriptive patterns are viewed as >B< +)&@F features or characteristic
patterns of a particular conte5t. >9 ()'S 9;(D9< &9CS 'S ()9( + )97 &&/'S,
9CA ;9C /;?C'L 9&''9/ 9((/CS 9C()/ +9< ;CC;('C?RF +ithin the
conte5t of education, the point seems to be of a difference in "view." 9n emergent pattern
can be viewed as epistemological -- as a wa of understanding relationships. n the other
hand, wor!ing within an emergent pattern can provide was of !nowing and acting. or
instance, we can e5amine the patterns that connect specific concepts in biolog %which ma
be emergent within the conte5t of the biological sstem3 as a wa of developing more
comple5 and interconnected understandings. +ithin the conte5t of classroom dnamics, we
ma see emergent patterns of relationships occurring. 'n such a case, we can act in was that
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 9/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 of 22
facilitate such relationships or that change those patterns in was which are more
productive.
>()'S 'S CASS< 7/ -;&';9(A ()/ 9/ (+ 7S )/, ()9(
9((/CS ()9( 9/ HAPPENING 9CA ()9( 9((/CS 'C AWARENESS 9((/CS 9S
/;?C'('C, /;('C, ()'C:'C? () 9((/ 9/ (&/9/'< A'S('C?D'S)A
/& () /&/ 9S I/;('CJ 9CA I//SC(9('CJ BD( ()< 9/ C( 9;(D9<
S9/9( ()/ 'S I9 C;SS9/< DC'(<J
/ 9 B'C? +'() 9 &'CA, 9/(';'9('C 'S /;(A 'C DCA/S(9CA'C?, 9CA
DCA/S(9CA'C? /(D/CS ( 9/(';'9('C () S9/9('C 9 I)'?)/ J /A/ /
7 9+9/CSS 'S (&/9/<, 9CA 'C S& SCS 'DS/< / I7'/(D9J Q +)9( ) 'S (/<'C? ( 79/'L )/, BD( C< /AD;'C? ;CDS'C, 'S 9C
9/('';'9 A'S('C;('C B(+C 9((/CS I;;D//'C?J 9CA 9((/CS
IDCA/S(9CA'C?J Q B(+C () /'C; () &&C(-(-&&C( /;SS 9CA
() /'C; /;('C? C () /;SS I/& () D(S'AJ Q ()9( ID(S'AJ 'S
)<()(';9 9CA %' + (/< ( ' '(S 99/(CSS /&9CC(< / ( A'C
BDCA9/'S / '(3 ADS'C9 9?9'C, () S;)/ ;( 9 RETURN TO ORIGIN R
(he discussion thus far essentiall describes the notion of patterns that connect as networ!s
or webs of relationships. )ow is such a notion different from what we have been doing
alread in classrooms@ or instance, we teach children about the "food web" as a networ! of
relationships among various organisms %e.g., producers, consumers, predators,
decomposers3. Such a web has the appearance of connecting patterns of relationships, but
the relationships describe onl a small part of the conte5t and do not point to processes of
self-organi#ation or hierarchies of !nowledge. urthermore, as Bateson %1G3 contends,
patterns that connect are meta-patterns or patterns of patterns of relationships. 'n the case offood webs, the relationships are onl a small piece of larger patterns of energ flow,
population growth and stabilit, and various smbiotic relationships. 9ll of these larger
patterns are interrelated as self-organi#ing and self-maintaining processes %see igure 13.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 10/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 10 of 22
-i$ure 1. ood webs as a networ! of relationships vs. food webs as one aspect of meta-
patterns of self-organi#ation.
(he defining features of patterns that connect can be described as %a3 meta-patterns or
patterns of patterns of relationships %or patterns of patterns of connections3$ %b3 conte5ts of
relationships that provide greater depths of meaning$ %c3 pointers to processes of self-
organi#ation or hierarchies of !nowledge$ and %d3 creative processes that generate new
!nowledge %e.g., new forms of biological structures or new forms of !nowledge and
understanding3. Such features appear to be characteristic of both emerging and epistemic
patterns that connect in biological and social conte5ts, and to some e5tent in phsical
conte5ts. )owever, within the realm of education, it ma be helpful to categori#e patterns
that connect in terms of conte5ts of applicabilit
1. atterns that connect within a particular discipline, such as biolog, phsics, histor,
economics, etc.$
2. atterns that connect across disciplines, such as between %a3 biolog and phsics$ %b3
biolog and art$ and %c3 biolog, geolog, economics, histor, etc.$
K. atterns that connect people with their biological and phsical worlds$
4. atterns that connect people to one another across individual, social, and cultural
differences.
'n each of these categories, patterns that connect can be viewed as either emerging or
descriptive. )owever, in either case, such patterns go beond the networ!s of simple
relationships to overarching patterns of connections evident in such relationships. 'n
addition, categories can overlap resulting in even more comple5 patterns.
Patterns 'hat onnect Within a ;iscipline
(picall, schooling emphasi#es the acOuisition of specific facts and concepts, which are
generall presented in was that are devoid of or are wea!l embedded in conte5t. 9s a
result, an learning that occurs tends to be fragmented. Such !nowledge lac!s the depth ofmeaning that is possible when concepts are learned within richl interconnected conte5ts. 9s
in figure 1, students who learn about the food web ma leave with an understanding that
different organisms are food for other organisms. +hat is important about that concept@ Cot
much. )owever, if students were to e5plore what happens %a3 when certain populations lose
their natural predators, %b3 how the energ flows through the phsical and biological
environment, and %c3 what relationships e5ist among various organisms and between those
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 11/22
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 12/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 12 of 22
alwas e5act. ne side of the crab was not identical to the mirror of the other side -- the
claw on one side was bigger than the one on the other side. So, the notion of smmetr was
not limited to e5act mirror images. Such smmetr of "similarit" is evident in man tpes
relationships. (he relationship between a couple can be smmetrical, if both individuals
tend to vie for control over the relationship. (wo countries or groups who vie for control
over a land area or an economic entit are in a smmetrical relationship.
9t the same time, the notion of smmetr can e5tend to gala5ies and other astronomical
phenomena, to tornadoes, to mathematical eOuations, to poetr, to patterns represented
artisticall, to a dance performance, and so forth. )indu and Buddhist understandings of
pschological and social aspects of life involve smmetrical representations in the form of
mandalas. &an native cultures view the world as a smmetrical balance of various factors
and forces. +hat might start as a discussion of bilateral smmetr %i.e., structure3 can e5tend
to smmetr of function, action, behavior, power, and so on.
Aeveloping such cross disciplinar patterns of connectedness provides opportunities to
develop much more comple5 understandings and conte5ts of meaning. Such understandings
lead to the development of abilities to criticall discriminate. or instance, we can ta!e a
terms, such as "power," and loo! at how it is used in different conte5ts. ower, as a scientific
term, has a specific meaning which is Ouite different from uses of the term in other conte5ts
"that was a powerful movie," "who has power in the classroom," or "the power of the
written world." 5amining how such terms var in meaning across conte5ts is not tpicall
done in classrooms. 9s a result, students are often confused and have difficult doing well in
courses, especiall in science where the meanings of commonl used words %e.g., force,
resistance, energ, etc.3 often have ver different and sometimes counter-intuitive meanings.)owever, when such differences in meaning are addressed, students are given the tools to
start discriminating between conte5tuall appropriate meanings. Students not onl can
discriminate between differences in meaning across conte5ts, but also can e5amine how
such terms are similar. 9lthough "power" has a specific meaning in science and one that is
different from "power" in human relationships, there is a sense of similarit in both usages.
'n such cases, where a particular word appears in man different conte5ts, but with different
meanings, the notion of patterns that connect can involve such transitions in meaning while
maintaining an almost poetic similarit.
Patterns 'hat onnect People with 'heir Worlds
Both of the previous categories of patterns that connect have the potential for allowing us
%including students3 to connect with our world. )owever, more e5plicit was of developing
such connections are possible. or instance, a grade five girl describes her e5perience of
wal!ing in the forest "...' thin! sOuirrels are reall reall nice. ' have a bunch of sOuirrel
friends down in the woods.... whenever '=m down in the woods the sOuirrels alwas come
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 13/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 1K of 22
around and chatter to me" %Bloom, 14, data set3. 'n this e5ample, the girl feels a
connection with the sOuirrels, who come and chatter to her. f course, from what we !now
of sOuirrel behavior, their chatter is probabl a reaction to a perceived threat. (he important
point is that she feels a connection to and understanding of her world. )er understandings
are enlivened b the connection she sees between the sOuirrels and herself. n the other
hand, the same sense of connectedness could hold true if she saw the sOuirrels as screaming
at her for invading their territor. 'n either case, the anthropomorphism serves as a basis of
the pattern that connects the girl to her world.
'n a similar wa, the grade K girl who sas, "it=s wagging its tail," as she observes an
earthworm in a tra, is ma!ing a connection to the earthworm %even though earthworms do
not have tails3 %Bloom, 10, 123. "+agging" a tail has implicit meanings. 9lthough the
following "meanings" are often discouraged in biolog, a cat wagging its tail is generall an
indication of "irritation"$ and a dog wagging its tail generall means that it is "happ". Both
of these meanings of wagging tails deal with emotions with which we have e5perience. So,when we tal! about a dog being happ when it=s wagging its tail, we can identif with the
dog=s e5perience to some e5tent. (he point here, however, is that in school we either ignore
or critici#e such statements. n the other hand, we should be encouraging such connections
and e5plorations of meanings. +e could as!, what do ou thin! it means when the worm is
wagging its tail@ +hat does it mean when a dog wags its tails@ when a cat wags its tail@
Such Ouestions can lead to further e5plorations, such as, how do we and other animals
e5press different emotions and so forth@ +hat other meanings for wagging tails are there,
such as with cows, horses, and mon!es@ (hen, do we, as humans, do similar things with
similar meanings@ 9gain, as with the previous two categories of patterns that connect we
can see how such Ouestions can lead to the spinning of comple5 webs of interconnectionsand understandings. )owever, in this case, we also are creating connections between us and
our world.
Patterns 'hat onnect People to <ne %nother
(he fourth categor of patterns that connect people to one another, e5tends beond the
tpical scope of science or an other discipline, although it becomes vitall important within
the conte5t of the classroom, as well as in our societ, in general. (he notion of "difference,"
as described b &a5ine ?reene %1883 and isa Aelpit %13, is at issue in all classrooms.
Cot onl is each individual different, but racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural groups each
bring sometimes radicall differing conte5ts of beliefs, world views, and was of
conducting oneself. 'n e5treme cases, some children ma feel culture shoc! as the enter as
immigrants into a strange new societ. &ar ;atherine Bateson %143 suggests that "true
culture shoc! occurs when differences run deep and immersion is complete, so much so that
ordinar assumptions are overthrown, when panic overcomes irritation" %pp. G-83.
;hildren in our classrooms ma be in the midst of such panic. )owever, as &ar ;atherine
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 14/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 14 of 22
Bateson suggests, loo!ing for the patterns that connect us across cultural and individual
barriers ma be a solution. /evealing such patterns reOuires empath and openness. +hat
common sense of humanit do we share@ +hat things do we care about and share in
common@ (hese and man more Ouestions are a start to the development of patterns that
connect people to people.
'n a wa that is similar to patterns that connect us to our world, we can begin to e5plore our
similarities across e5pressions of difference. 5plorations of our e5periences of love,
securit, fear, friendship, insecurit, and so forth can open avenues for people to begin to
understand one another. 9s these avenues are opened, we can begin e5ploring difference.
)owever, as we e5plore difference we need ccle bac! to how such instances of difference
affect commonalties of shared emotions and feelings. or instance, man cultures view the
act of a child loo!ing at an elder in the ees is an insult. &an white teachers e5pect
children to loo! at them when the are tal!ing. (his difference in relating to adults can lead
to a lot of misunderstandings and negative feelings. n the other hand, what is thecommonalit between the two different was of relating to adults@ Both are e5pressions of
how a particular group shows respect for adults.
Such investigations and discussions of difference and similarit can lead a diverse group of
students to come to an understanding and appreciation of each other. 9s all individuals
continue to e5plore their relationships, the can continue to develop comple5 webs of
understandings of differences and similarities in their was of communicating meaning. 9t
the same time, we are providing students with the tools to communicate effectivel with
others %Bateson, 143.
Amplications for &earnin$ and ?choolin$
&eaning is not self-e5isting in the world. +e create meaning through patterns of
connections with our world. Such patterns of connections comprise the conte5t or conte5ts
that provide the possibilit of generating meaning %Bateson, 1G3. rom the perspective of
semiotics, a sort of cbernetic ccling occurs between the sign, obNect, and the individual or
individuals involved in interpreting. 9s we encounter and relate to phenomena, we assign
labels, which can, in turn, be related to specific conte5ts of meaning. ur connections to
specific conte5ts can then lead to interactions with the particular phenomena, which can lead
to further labeling and connections to conte5ts and so on. (his ccling occurs as non-linear
patterns of !nowledge construction and meaning-ma!ing. Student to student discourse
freOuentl follows such cclical processes. 'n argumentative discourse, students react to
other students= claims, which are countered b the original proponents of a claim. 9s such
arguments continue, the comple5it of meanings and understandings increase %Bloom, in
press3. Bateson %1G, personal communication3 referred to such processes as "multiple
perspectives and loop processes." Such processes result in increasingl comple5 patterns of
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 15/22
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 16/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 16 of 22
-i$ure 4. 9 representation of a traditional approach to curriculum and instruction.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 17/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 1G of 22
-i$ure 6. 9 representation of a tpical integrated curriculum.
'n contrast, &ar ;atherine Bateson %143 suggests that learning occurs when various
e5periences and ideas interconnect as the spiral together over time. Such an approach can
be established b providing students with opportunities to engage in learning e5periences
and lines of inOuir arising from common over-arching topics or Ouestions. )owever, these
e5periences need to have a common grounding in critical reflection, where students can
ponder and discuss their insights and understandings %see figure 43. Such an approach
provides for the development of "patterns that connect", which result in understandings
connected within and across disciplines. 'n this approach, teachers cannot necessaril
predict the outcomes of instruction in terms of what is tpicall referred to as specific
"learning outcomes." n the other hand, learning goals which describe general
characteristics of student learning can be described. Such general characteristics can include
%a3 comple5 and richl interconnected conceptual understandings$ %b3 meaningful
understandings embedded in one or more conte5ts$ and %c3 descriptions that discriminate
between conte5tuall appropriate !nowledge claims and understandings.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 18/22
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 19/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 1 of 22
conceptual area would serve as the maNor theme in other courses, such as those that
emphasi#e %a3 science teaching methods$ %b3 was of representing understandings %e.g.,
written and spo!en language, mathematics, visual arts, dramatic arts, etc.3$ %c3 reflection on
e5periences wor!ing with children$ and %d3 children=s learning, thin!ing, and discourse.
-i$ure 3. 9 representation of a "patterns that connect" approach to elementar scienceteacher education.
>C( () 9+ / () DC(9:C C( CAA S(
'C ()S A'9?/9&S
()D?) ) S)+S 9 )';9 'C(/+97'C? () A'/C( IS(/9CASJ ) AS C(
S)+ () /SD( 9S 'C(/+7C, BD( 9S () S9/9( A'S;''CS S(' S9/9(A
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 20/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 20 of 22
+)< 9/ 9 () S(S 'C ?/DS () S9& ;/ @
9CA () 'C(/;CC;('CS B(+C ?/DS 'C B9;: C( 'C ;/S@
Such patterns that connect approaches to curricular design provide students with
opportunities to see and develop connections between various learning e5periences. 'n some
cases, what develops are emergent patterns that affect their actions, whether in their inOuir
within and between subNect matter disciplines, in the teaching of children, or in their
wor!ing with others %e.g., fellow students in group wor!3. 'n other cases, descriptive
patterns that connect result from their inOuir within conceptual areas.
(a!ing a "patterns that connect" approach to instruction reOuires students to be inOuisitive
and to see the relevance in e5ploring the comple5it of relations. Such student
characteristics are not generall encouraged in schools where %a3 teachers act as !nowledge
authorities, %b3 the curriculum is narrowl focused and follows a linear progression, and %c3
students are e5pected to recall specific information for tests. or a "patterns that connect"approach to wor!, the classroom needs to be viewed as communit of learners and inOuirers.
Arawing on the ave and +enger=s %113 notion of situated learning, students need to
formulate identities of independent learners and move toward full participation in
communities of learners and inOuirers. Aeveloping such communities in the classroom
reOuires that teachers act as models, coaches, and facilitators %?allas, 13. B ta!ing on
such roles, teachers can help move students from the peripher as the enter the classroom
in the fall to full participation %ave * +enger, 113.
'n order to deal with the fragmentation of !nowledge, approaching learning and teaching as
a wa of revealing and constructing "patterns that connect" ma provide a wa ofdeveloping a coherence and cohesiveness that has been missing in our societ. ocusing on
"patterns that connect" can lead to greater understandings of the comple5ities of the world,
while serving as a fundamental organi#ing principle. 9s such, "patterns that connect" can
allow children to develop s!ills in dealing effectivel with comple5it and diversit and to
develop broader and more relevant conceptual understandings. 9s suggested b ave and
+enger %113 and &ar ;atherine Bateson %143, the development of such s!ills and
comple5 understandings are essential in helping children move towards full participation in
learning communities and beond.
"eferences
Bateson, ?. %1G3. Mind and nature A ne!e""ar# unit#$ Cew <or! Bantam Boo!s.
Bateson, ?. %113. Sa!red unit# Furt%er "te&" t' an e!'(')# '* +ind %/. . Aonaldson,
ed.3. Cew <or! )arper ;ollins.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 21/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 21 of 22
Bateson, &. ;. %143. Peri&%era( i"i'n" Learnin) a('n) t%e -a#$ Cew <or! )arper
;ollins.
Bloom, E. +. %in press3. ;lassroom discourse and cognition 9n e5tended argument about
densit. .'urna( '* t%e Learnin) S!ien!e"$
Bloom, E. +. %183. T%e i+&(i!ati'n" '* e'(uti'nar# &attern" 'n (earnin) I""ue" '*
ariati'n, n'n/(inearit#, and n'n/&r')re""ii"+$ aper presented at the annual meeting of
the 9merican ducational /esearch 9ssociation, San Aiego, 9pril.
Bloom, E. +. %123. ;onte5ts of meaning and conceptual integration )ow children
understand and learn. 'n /. 9. Auschl and /. )amilton %ds.3, P%i('"'&%# '* "!ien!e,
!')nitie "!ien!e in edu!ati'na( t%e'r# and &ra!ti!e %pp. 1GG-143. 9lban, C< State
Dniversit of Cew <or! ress.
Bloom, E. +. %103. ;onte5ts of meaning <oung children=s understanding of biological
phenomena. Internati'na( .'urna( '* S!ien!e Edu!ati'n, 01%3, 4-61.
;apra, . %163. T%e -e2 '* (i*e. Cew <or! 9nchor Boo!s %Aoubleda3.
Aelpit, . %13. Ot%er &e'&(e3" !%i(dren Cu(tura( !'n*(i!t in t%e !(a""r''+$ Cew <or!
Cew ress.
?allas, :. %13. Ta(4in) t%eir -a# int' "!ien!e Hearin) !%i(dren3" 5ue"ti'n" and t%e'rie",
re"&'ndin) -it% !urri!u(a$ Cew <or! (eachers ;ollege ress.
?reene, &. %1883. T%e dia(e!ti! '* *reed'+$ Cew <or! (eachers ;ollege ress.
?ould, S. E. %163. Fu(( %'u"e T%e "&read '* e6!e((en!e *r'+ P(at' t' Dar-in$ Cew <or!
)armon Boo!s.
ave, E., * +enger, . %113. Situated (earnin) Le)iti+ate &eri&%era( &arti!i&ati'n$ Cew
<or! ;ambridge Dniversit ress.
&aturana, ). /., * 7arela, . E. %183. T%e tree '* 4n'-(ed)e T%e 2i'(')i!a( r''t" '*
%u+an under"tandin) %/evised dition3. Boston Shambhala.
liver, A. +. %with ?ershman, :. +.3. %183. Edu!ati'n, +'dernit#, and *ra!tured
+eanin) T'-ard a &r'!e"" t%e'r# '* tea!%in) and (earnin)$ 9lban, C< State Dniversit
of Cew <or! ress.
8/10/2019 Bloom on Bateson Metapatterns Interdisciplines
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/bloom-on-bateson-metapatterns-interdisciplines 22/22
Bloom on bateson metapatterns interdisciplines 2014-10-06 22 of 22
rigogine, '. %1843$ Order 'ut '* !%a'" Man3" ne- dia(')ue -it% nature$ Cew <or!
Bantam Boo!s.
Sable, (. %163. An't%er (''4 in t%e +irr'r Re"ear!% int' t%e *'undati'n" *'r dee('&in)
an a(ternatie "!ien!e !urri!u(u+ *'r Mi34+a- !%i(dren$ Dnpublished &asters thesis, St.
&ar=s Dniversit, )alifa5, Cova Scotia %9pril3.
Smith, /., * +e5ler, . %13. A*ter P'"t/M'derni"+ Edu!ati'n, &'(iti!", and identit#$
+ashington, A; almer ress.
+ood, ?. ). %103. (eachers as curriculum wor!ers. 'n E. (. Sears and E. A. &arshall
%ds.3, Tea!%in) and t%in4in) a2'ut !urri!u(u+ Criti!a( in5uirie"$ Cew <or! (eachers
;ollege ress.
%T3 B "or even contained in", ' am referring to ?regor BatesonHs %1G, 113 notion that
!nowledge is contained within an particular cbernetic sstem.
"eturn to Jeff BloomEs @ome Pa$e