What is Fisherfolk

This chapter aims to show how concept mapping is a technique which is capable of representing complex systems in an accessible format and offers excellent opportunities for collaboration and meaningful learning. Effective communication is at the foundation of collaborative learning and concept mapping is expressly used in this research to facilitate the dialogue between participants and researcher. The chapter starts out by situating the reader by way of a conceptual background about complex systems, followed by the basis for the application of concept mapping in this project and the specific research context - a case study of small-scale fisheries in southern Brazil. Then, an account of the use of concept mapping during the fieldwork is given, with an assessment of the technique. The chapter ends with a reflection on the experience gained so far and comments on the application of collaborative learning in similar research projects.