.
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Lead Faculty
Greenwich University
Applied Ecopsychology
ECO 509: GLOBAL HISTORY OF THE SENSES (3 credits)
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Director, Project NatureConnect
P. O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360) 378-6313
Email: nature@pacificrim.net
Website: www.ecopsych.com
COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students gain further insights into the 53 senses, their natural
origins and existence and their cultural applications, by exploring
each sense individually. Under the direction of the instructor,
students establish and identify a class of four or more students
with whom they work online and/or onsite. Students will keep
a reflective journal of their experiences or a database of their
online activity postings. Course participants will commit to
doing nature-guided, independent study of at
least two senses per week in order to finish the class within
a six month time frame. At the completion of the course, students
will prepare a scholarly summary paper (at least 15 typewritten
pages) reflecting their
experiences.
PREREQUISITES
Students must have completed ECO 601 - Educating and Counseling
With
Nature I
and ECO 602 - Educating and Counseling With Nature II.
COURSE TOPICS
*Individual exploration of each of the 53 natural senses,
focusing
on them each in turn, doing at least two senses per week)
*Identify if and when the student has experienced this particular
sense in a
natural area/ setting or how it functions there for plants, minerals
or animals.
*Describe how and where that sense has been rebonded and functions
in contemporary society and the student's relationships in it.
*Describe the loss or gain from the rebonding of the sense to contemporary society along with wranglers,hurt and/or rewards that may accompany this process.
*Demonstrate understanding the unique contributions of each sense to the overall consensus of senses.
*What contribution, if any, can you make to help this sense carry out its unifying and balancing contribution in contemporary life?
*Effectively drawi upon the knowledge and experiences of other students as well as the scientific literature to gain greater understanding of the relevance of each sense to living a balanced life.
*Structuring a quality course summary paper
-Optional Topics
*Sensory resonance with other senses
*Psychology of nature negatives in terms of each sense
*Psychological origins of our separation from nature as it
relates to an
individual sense
COURSE OBJECTIVES
This in-depth sensory study course is intended to empower
the
participants to:
*become masters of the senses as unique yet unifying entities
*become acutely aware of the history of the sense in nature
and
after conversion into culture along with wranglers involved,
if any.
*effectively discuss and share personal sensory observations
and experiences with a group of peers
* make use of current scientific writings on the workings of Nature
*analyze, summarize the course learnings
BRIEF NEED STATEMENT
Instructional programs for mid-career adults are effective,
many
times, only to the extent that the participants can individualize
their
study for immediate application within the professional environment.
General programs of study must make provisions for students to
undertake
highly advanced inspections of the topic to allow an individualized
and specialized preparation. Participants motivated
to explore aspects of the subject matter in greater detail, should
be encouraged and guided in this pursuit. It is essential that
the study of sensory ecology maximize the relevance of knowledge
about each of the 53 natural senses as unique contributers
o the functioning of the web as a whole. Defining a course which
permits effective and focused study, one sense at a time, will
help the participants gain greater working knowledge of the overall
congruence of senses.
COURSE AUDIENCE
Open as an elective to all graduate and undergraduate students
with the permission of the instructor.
FACULTY-STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS
-Telephone Contacts
The student will initiate an initial telephone conference
with the
instructor within one week of enrollment
to clarify a plan of action for the course. This initial contact
will
help familiarize the student and
instructor with one another, and permit the transmission of clear
expectations for completion of course
requirements. Periodic telephone interaction , as required, at
student's expense, should be continued for
the duration of the course.
-Email Communications
Frequent email communications between student and instructor
and between
students and a peer group
should be initiated and continued for the duration of the course.
-Alternative Communications
Students may send communications and materials via postal
service, as appropriate. Chat room sessions, when available,
can be held
on a
weekly basis.
COURSE DELIVERY STYLE
Students conduct a maximum six month study of the 53 senses
as listed in Reconnecting With Nature, by M.J. Cohen. The students
study at least 2 senses per week in order to finish in the allotted
time frame.
Study will be done through personal experience with the senses,
interact
group discussions and from researching relevant scientific literature.
Participants prepare journal notations concerning the salient
points
from their observations and experiences of each of the senses
as
studied.
The participant regularly shares their insights with their class
peer
group. At the completion of the course, students prepare an academic,
scholarly paper of at least 15 double-spaced, typewritten pages
which reflects upon he in-depth natural senses study. The paper
must adhere to an acceptable manual of writing style.
REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS
-Required Textbook
There is no required textbook for this course although any
of Dr.
Michael Cohen,s
activity books used in ECO 601 and ECO 602 may assist in learning.
-Recommended Bibliography
Pertinent scientific journals and literature on the workings of Nature.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS
-Assignment #1: Collaborative Communication with Instructor
and Course
Interact Group
Initiate telephone contact with the instructor to clarify
the plan of
action for the course, establish a study group of peers, and
initiate
collaborative email communications. Maintain email contact with
the instructor and class interact group for the duration of the
course.
Initiate and continue journal notations concerning all
communications with the instructor.
-Assignment #2: Sensory Study
Conduct a weekly study of the 53 senses, focusing on at least
two senses
per week.
You will gather insight from personal time spent experiencing
your
surroundings through
the sense and from investigating relevant scientific literature
to gain
further knowledge of how each sense works.
Share your learnings on each sense with your course interact
group and
actively
participate in discussions which follow.
-Assignment #3: Scholarly Paper
Within the requirements for a course final paper found at
http://www.ecopsych.com/eco500paper.html
prepare a paper containing a discussion of your findings and
summarizing
the six month in-depth study. The paper should be at least 15
double-spaced typewritten pages.
INDIVIDUALIZATION OF STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS
The primary purpose of this course is to provide opportunities
for
students to carefully inspect the full reach of each sense as
a working,
intelligent, life sustaining force. This course allows the student
to
get to know each sense in a personal and in-depth way with the
overall
goal of gaining greater understanding of how the NSTP can be
applied
in their chosen area of career interest.
COURSE EVALUATION
The instructor will evaluate the completeness and effectiveness
of
the student's written class correspondence and the
scholarly paper.
The instructor and a student support/interact group will reflect
upon the following expectations in evaluating the work of the
student:
*detail of presentations and email discussions
*depth and maturity of the sensory study
*richness and diversity of the insights presented
*focus and conceptual quality
*richness and coherence in translation of old brain sensing
into new
brain language
*quality of writing of the scholarly presentation
COURSE GRADING DETERMINANTS
The course grade will be calculated according to the following
formula:
*active and regular participation in discussion group throughout
the
course 70%
*scholarly paper 30%
COURSE COMPLETION TIMETABLE
The student is expected to carry out and complete all
assignments and meet the expectations of the instructor within
180 days
from the
start date. Students are encouraged to pursue the course requirements
according to the following timetable.
Week #1: Make telephone contact with the instructor for the
purpose of establishing the plan of action, the class peer group
and
scheduling the timeline and mode of communications for the duration
of the course. Email introductory biography to all students in
your
peer class group. Establish group consensus on posting schedule
for each sense (at least 2 per week).
Week #2-26: Study and post observations on current week,s
senses.
(Week 2 would be senses 1 and 2. Week 3 would be senses 3 and
4 and so
on)
Week #24-26: Prepare a scholarly paper of observations and
learnings gained throughout the course.
Week #26: Submission of paper and receipt of effective feedback
from the
instructor.
SPECIAL NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS
-Course Completion
The grade of Incomplete may be given ONLY AFTER discussion
with
the instructor and only if there
is an extremely good reason to give such a grade. An Incomplete
will
NOT be given because a student
is "behind" in work, needs extra time, simply because
s/he wants to
delay the completion of the
assignments. It is important that you turn in assignments within
the
parameters of the agreed timeline.
However, there are often unforeseen circumstances will may befall
any of us, therefore, I will be
patient with you in the event of some personal crisis. Don't
surprise me at the last minute, call me,
email me, and we will work it out.
-Thoughts about Writing.
Purchase a collegiate writing style manual. If you are unclear
which
is the appropriate manual, please
contact me and we can discuss this important issue. All written
work
should adhere to the writing style
and manuscript preparation guidelines described in your style
manual. Pay extra special attention to
the rules related to referencing and citation of the academic
literature. In all circumstances, you will be
expected to acknowledge the works of others which have informed
the
work you wish to submit as
your own. If you are unclear with regard to this expectation,
ask
before you begin writing.
-Academic Integrity
Academic dishonest in any of its forms, including cheating,
plagiarism, misuse of the University web
site, failure to comply with guidelines for the preparation of
a
scholarly manuscript, and all aspects of
professional ethics, will not be tolerated. Any form of academic
dishonesty is grounds for dismissal
from the program.
FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Director, Project NatureConnect
P. O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360) 378-6313
Email: nature@pacificrim.net
Website: www.ecopsych.com
Communications should take place during daytime working hours
in
the western time zone or by appointment.
Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Special NGO consultant to United Nations Economic and Social
Council.
P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor WA 98250
(360) 378-6313
nature@pacificrim.net
www.ecopsych.com
.
--
There is no "I" in Nature. Email me if this intrigues
you.
SPECIAL NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS
Students may progress through this course at a faster pace,
as appropriate,
with permission of the course instructor.
FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION
Michael J. Cohen, Ed.D.
Director, Project NatureConnect
P. O. Box 1605
Friday Harbor, WA 98250 USA
Tel: (360) 378-6313
Email: nature@pacificrim.net
Website: www.ecopsych.com
Communications should take place during daytime working hours
in the western time zone or by appointment.
Project NatureConnect
Institute of Global Education
Special NGO consultant to United Nations Economic
and Social Council.
P.O. Box 1605 Friday Harbor WA 98250
(360) 378-6313
nature@pacificrim.net
www.ecopsych.com