- Awareness: Omnia Extares in Hesychia

Institution:

The Evergreen State College

Subject:

Description:

Faculty: Bill Arney, Sarah Williams Major areas of study include education, consciousness studies, creative writing, social and cultural studies, feminist theory, history and somatic studies. Class Standing: This all-level program accepts up to 25 percent freshmen. Awareness-a program devoted to exploring the complementarity of ascetical and critical studies-has been offered in various forms for the past three years. It has raised questions for the college, faculty and students: What is the value, or the virtue, of contemplative education in modern institutions of higher education Can we reclaim the virtues of Evergreen's mascot or animal totem-the geoduck's predisposition for stillness (hesychia) and letting it all hang out-as we contemplate anew what is extolled when we sing our alma mater, "Omnia Extares!" at graduation ceremonies Our collective inquiry will involve a look back-through important texts, student work and evaluations, institutes and retreats, programs at other institutions-to help answer these questions. Join us as we assess, appreciate, and incorporate within our own work together the best of what has been learned about the influence of this curriculum on learning communities as well as on collegiality at the college. In addition to this core work for everyone in the program, students also will design their own learning experiences. These field studies, which will constitute up to half the work of the quarter, can be anything: walking, reading, sailing, midwifery, writing, gardening, Aikido, hospice care, welding, cooking, meditation, etc. (These may seem mundane activities but any independent work will be undertaken knowing that your work, reflections and study will be conducted in light of the bookish and somatic inquiries of the program. ) Each person will answer these questions: What do you want to learn How are you going to learn it How are you going to know when you have learned it How are you going to show others-faculty and colleagues-that you have learned it And, what difference will it make Learning happens when you have an experience and then reflect on it. Our focus will be on the craft of reflection. Our interest is the relationship between conscious reflection-awareness-and learning. As a learning community we will participate in mind-body practices, as well as bookish study, that facilitate and enhance our ability to reflect on our current situation in historical, cross-cultural and gendered contexts. Total: 16 credits. Enrollment: 48 Special Expenses: $30 for yoga workshops. Program is preparatory for careers and future studies in education, consciousness studies, creative writing, social and cultural studies, feminist theory and somatic studies. This program is also listed under Culture, Text and Language. A similar program is expected to be offered in 2008-09.

Credits:

16.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.evergreen.edu

Phone Number:

(360) 867-6170

Regional Accreditation:

Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities

Calendar System:

Quarter

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