Holistic Education
McCormick Theological Seminary
Summer 2016
May 13, 14, 20, 21, June 3, 4, 10, 11
Friday 1:00-5:00PM & Saturday 10:00AM-2:30PM
Instructor: Tamar Wasoian, Ph.D.
Tentative Syllabus
The unity of the church, fullness of life for humanity and the integrity of creation are all manifestations of the wholeness of God’s will for us.
Holistic Education Resource Book
DESCRIPTION
Holistic education looks into human being in its mind, body, soul and community dimensions, within the context of time and history, in relation to the divine. We tend to think we learn and know with our minds.But all learning takes place in our bodies. Our souls tell stories about us in a trajectory of time and our stories exist in context of the collective of our likes.
Holistic education addresses many paths to educational ministry at the church that focuses on integrating mind, body, soul and community. Complexity of the paths reflects the complexity of our being. Our being is not isolated from others but inhabits a world of beings. Being whole is in being together in our-selves and in communities that are faithful and just to each other. Holistic education is not a set of ‘does and don’ts’ but it is a way of ‘being and doing’ together to reflect God’s initial will for humanity. It is a path to be, to learn and to breathe justly.
This class will be exploring a educational ministry approach that addresses holistic human existence. We will be breathing and moving around. Class will start with Hatha yoga INSPIREDpractice (60-90 minutes). You do not need to be fit to be part of this class, but be willing to move around,‘be’ in the experience and explore learning with/in motion.
OBJECTIVES
- Explore holistic teaching and learning as new approach to the education ministry of the church.
- Reflect on aspects of holistic education in diverse religious practices.
- Introduce a number of educational approaches with holistic elements.
- Provide a space in which holistic education could be experienced, discussed and learned.
ASSIGNMENTS
- Writing Pre-Work: A short summary and a short reflection paper the assigned books. Not more than2-3 pages anddue the Thursday before the class. This assignment should be posted on Moodle for the classmates to read and reflect on each other’s paper.
Summary due by Thursday noon.
Questions to classmates due by Thursday before mid night.
Total of two questions from each student and no more two questions to any classmate.
These assignments will be counted for 4 hours online learning.
20% of the total grade
- Can’t Believe What I Heard! You will be responsible for presenting a contemporary issue that needs holistic elements. This could be a project you read in the media, heardat your church’s social hall or the office, or witnessed on the street. You will be assigned a day during the second week of the class to present.
15% of the total grade
- In-Class Seminar Presentation. You will be preparing a presentation on one of the educational approaches with holistic elements in the third week of the class. You can make your choice from Holistic Education Resource Book, pages 105-185. You have to choose only ONE educational approach to present.
20% of the total grade.
- Final paper/project.Chose one of the options for your final project:
a-Explore your understanding of holistic educational ministry of the church (not less then 10 pages). How do you see your role and contribution to it? Make sure to include pedagogical and theological insights from the class readings and discussions and present your vision of your role as a facilitator of such ministry.
b-If you had the resources and means, what holistic ministry project would you design? How do you envision a holistic educational ministry in the church? This could be any age or need specific project you are/or will be engaged in your ministry.
Detailed explanation to follow on this option.
c-Creative suggestions are welcomed.
45% of the total grade.
Further instructions and guidelines will be provided in the final syllabus and in the class on all the assignments.
REQUIRED BOOKS
Al Zeera, Zahra. Wholeness and Holiness in Education: An Islamic Perspective. The International Institute of Islamic Thought, 2001.
Harakas, Stanley S. Wholeness of Faith and Life: Orthodox Christian Ethics. Part Two Church Life Ethics. Massachusetts: Holy Cross Orthodox Press, 1999.
Moltmann, Jurgen. The Living God: and the Fullness of Life.Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2015.
Schreiner, Peter, Esther Banev, and Simon Oxley, eds. Holistic Education Resource Book: Learning and Teaching in an Ecumenical Context. Germany: A Publication of the Comenius-Institute and the World Council of Churches, 2005.
OPTIONAL READING
Bruggemann, Walter, Sharon Parks, and Thomas H. Groome. To Act Justly, Love Tenderly, Walk Humbly: An Agenda for Minsters. Eugene, Oregon: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 1997
Palmer, Parker J. A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life. U.S.A.: Jossey-Bass, 2004.
Vest, Norvene, Gathered in the Word: Praying the Scripture in Small Groups. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 1996.
SCHEDULE
Week One
Thursday, May 12
Short summary and questions on The Living God is due.
Friday, May 13- Parts verses whole.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Discussion on The Living God focusing on themes fromchapters 4-8.
Introduction to the class, discussion of the syllabus, and the assignments.
Saturday, May 14- What makes Christian Education holistic?
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Discussions from Holistic Education Resource Book focusing on pages 13-67
Week Two
Thursday, May 19
Short summary and questions on Wholeness of Faith and Life is due.
Friday, May 20- Wholeness for transformation and transfiguration.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Discussion on Wholeness of Faith and Life focusing on pages 24-55 and 122-148.
Also Holistic Education Resource Book focusing on pages 69-75.
Saturday, May 21- Transfiguration of education.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Reading Holistic Education Resource Book, pages 77-96
Presenting Can’t Believe What I Heard!
Week Three
Thursday, June 2
Short summary and questions on Wholeness and Holiness in Education is due.
Friday, June 3- The one and the many ways of learning.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Discussion on Wholeness and Holiness in Educationfocusing on pages 53-91 and115-128.
Discussing educational approaches with holistic elements from Holistic Education Resource Book
Saturday, 4- The many ways of learning.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
In-Class Seminar Presentations.
Week Four
Thursday, June 9- Reflection paper on your learnings from this class.
Friday, June 10- And now what? Making it whole.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Discussion on The Living God focusing on chapters 9-11.
Saturday, June 11- This I will do.
Moving, breathing and connecting.
Project presentations.
Putting it all together.
Friday, June 24- Final papers and/orare projects due.