Learning and thinking in practice: Complex systems thinking "in the wild"

Research in the field of learning sciences demonstrates that various forms of knowledge are created through participation in diverse but often undervalued community practices (Nasir, Rosebery, Warren, & Lee, 2006). However, knowledge created in practice is not traditionally explored in research about complex systems thinking (Duarte Olson, Forthcoming). This session seeks to recognize and capitalize on the wealth of complex systems knowledge learned through everyday practices in informal contexts. We present arguments that are grounded in research taking place in four different communities-with Brazilian samba schools, triathletes, Native Americans, and environmental educators. The goal of the symposium is to discuss (1) how complex systems thinking can be developed through different practices in informal environments, and (2) how an under-representation of diverse samples and phenomena may eschew our understanding of complex systems thinking.