In her book An Ecology of Identity, Nora Bateson explains education system as a complex network of interactions between people, ideas and artifacts that together create a flow of understanding and knowledge. The education system is composed of more than the teachers, classrooms, and objects in them. It incorporates the intangible components of an interactive cultural system: the interconnected narratives, beliefs, and ideas that are communicated to each and every participant, providing an enabling environment for learners to thrive and work together to create a common understanding. In this way, the education system is not just a series of mechanical processes, but instead a dynamic and unique environment that will continue to evolve as the needs and knowledge of learners change over time.

See also: mutual learning, systems theory, complexity, systems thinking, critical thinking