Roots of Learning: Approaches to holistic & transformative learning

5-9 November, 2007
Edmund O’Sullivan, Abelardo Brenes

This course is run in association with the Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of Plymouth

The course will provide participants the opportunity to explore new concepts of living a sustainable life through engaging with holistic transformative learning. This journey will not only be of unique benefit to them but, through contemplative practices, influence their engagement with the world at large.

Already booked on this course? Click here for Learning Resources

Course Overview

We are living in a period of human and Earth history that is in a state of radical transformation. Some habitual patterns that we have inherited from the past have now become dysfunctional for our present circumstances. We are being driven, by necessity, to devise new patterns for living in order to survive in a manner that gives us a sustainable quality of life. We cannot deal with our present historical moment by surface responses to our difficulties. This course explores the educational imperatives of our unique placement in the 21st century. It is designed so that participants can enter into deep dialogue with holistic-transformative learning. The course teachers are Abelardo Brenes who has written and taught extensively in the area of Holistic Education and Edmund O’Sullivan whose work has been in the area of transformative learning from an ecological and social justice orientation. The course will allow participants to explore their own unique journeys along a path of personal and planetary transformation. Participants will also have an opportunity to explore contemplative practices in relation to these processes.

The course is appropriate for all adult and university educators, as well as teachers at all levels of education, and individuals who are along a learning path that combines their personal lives with a local and global vision of education.

Teachers

Edmund O’Sullivan is Professor of Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto and author of Transformative Learning: Educational Vision for the 21st Century. He is Director of the Transformative Learning Centre which does research and runs graduate programmes on ecological issues.

Abelardo Brenes is currently Research Fellow at the University for Peace (UPEACE), a Treaty Organization created by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1980 and based in Costa Rica and Professor in Promotion of Mental Health in the M.A. in Health Psychology at the University of Costa Rica.

Timetable

Monday, November 5
Arrival by 1pm. Introduction to each other and College: Gaia theory and Schumacher philosophy.

Tuesday, November 6
Education for the 21st Century – The “Great Turning” and the “Great Work”.

Wednesday, November 7 – A Planetary Context for 21st Century Education – The “Earth Charter” as a framework for educational vision and values – “Animate Earth” – the Gaian perspective

Thursday, November 8
An Integral Holistic Approach to Education for Sustainability.

Friday, November 9
Moving toward action and commitment.

Departure around 4pm

Course Fees

Course Fees: £500
These include accommodation, food, field trips and all teaching sessions.

How to make an application – click here

For further information about Schumacher College please see About the College

New feature – reserve your place now

To provisionally reserve a place for 5 days, email us your contact details and the name of the course admin@schumachercollege.org.uk

We will hold the place for five working days for reservations – three weeks before a course or earlier. After five days we will automatically offer your place to someone else if we have not received your application.

Schumacher College is part of the Dartington Hall Trust, a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and as a charity (company no. 1485560, charity no. 279756). Registered office: The Elmhirst Centre, Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon TQ9 6EL, UK.