Thriving on the Edge of Chaos

ChatGPT did a nice job of summarizing my 108 page graduate thesis paper. You can read more about this 7 year qualitative study here. 

Summary

Lee L. Chazen's thesis titled "Thriving on the Edge of Chaos: An Argument for a Complex Adaptive Theory of Education" presents a case for the adoption of a complex adaptive system approach in the field of education, challenging the conventional scientific-deterministic model. His study found profound changes in student participation and higher order behavior when implementing a more fluid, laterally powered system, where the teacher acted more as a facilitator. These changes, he argues, lead to enhanced creative and critical thinking in students. The research underpins the argument with insights from emergence, chaos theory, complexity, and consilience.

Facts

• 📚 Chazen argues against the traditional scientific-deterministic model of education which, according to him, stifles curiosity, creativity, and potential for growth in both teachers and students. Instead, he proposes a complex adaptive theory of education.
• 📈 This work is a qualitative study that includes data from classroom observations, teacher and student notes, administrative evaluations, and various literature sources, over a seven-year period.
• 🔄 When Chazen changed his classroom structure from a hierarchical model to a complex adaptive system, he noted profound changes such as increased participation and complex higher order behavior among students.
• 🎓 The role of the teacher in this model shifts from an authoritative figure to a facilitator, acting as a feedback loop, creating a more inclusive, interactive learning environment.
• 🧩 Instead of using lectures to deliver course content, an open-ended game format was used to encourage engagement and thought-processing.
• ⚙️ The research draws support from areas like emergence, chaos theory, complexity, and consilience, and finds many similarities between scientific phenomena and social behavior observed in the classroom.
• 🧪 Chazen suggests the idea that the second law of thermodynamics (everything is prone to entropy) can be overturned and that order can arise from chaos, an interesting point for further research.
  
  See the new Global Challenge website for information about the game and how you can run this in your classroom.