Trial of Tools to Evaluate Adaptive Processes in Environmental Activities

Abstract

Environmental problems are “wicked problems” with multiple interacting causes; they cannot simply be solved by eliminating a single factor. To solve wicked problems when they occur, perspectives and responses to the problem must spread, allowing various people to detect the problem early and respond appropriately. A creative learning process is also required when responding to the problem. One way to create such a learning process is to evaluate an activity process that promotes mutual learning among diverse people. This chapter introduces two evaluation tools we have developed. The first is a social assessment tool for environmental activities which shares environmental activity processes. The other is a visualization tool for environmental activities which promotes mutual learning by encouraging dialogue between people involved in environmental activities. The social assessment tool incorporates self-assessment into the environmental activity process, which could lead to the immediate discovery and sharing of a problem, collaboration among different people, and finding the optimal way forward. The visualization tool promotes dialogue, focusing on “listening” to and “speaking” the reasons for people’s opinions. This helps people become conscious of their own perceptions, learn about others’ perspectives, deeply examine concepts and values, and cooperatively define their meanings. Both tools aim to create intellectual resources that lead to solutions by respecting diversity in opinions on the problem.