Portland State University
Continuing Education Graduate School of Education
Project
NatureConnect
Online
Courses and
Grants for Critical Education
Present:
An On-Line CEU/Graduate Level/
Professional DevelopmentCourse
Explore Nature's Wisdom:
Create Moments That Let Earth Teach.
Using nature, poetry and art as a gateway
to discovering creative sensory-awareness in nature.
An e-mail-based on-line distance
education course offered by PSU and Project NatureConnect.
Course graded upon completion.
Graduate Quarter Credit: 1/Counseling
or Education (Washington State OSPI conversion=10 contact hours
or 1 CEU)
COURSE REGISTRATION:
NOTE: Registration
Form (page end)
ONE CREDIT/ CI 808/ COURSE
NUMBER K2784FG (graduate)
Note: This class can be taken
for 2 credits. After completing the course, the student can then
repeat the course as a mentor to another student for the second
credit. This Mentor Course Number is CI 808 #K2787FG (graduate).
Cost for one credit is $65 with $60/credit to PSU
Instructor: Dr. Michael Cohen; Dr. Leslie Whitcomb
Fee: $65
For
information contact: Leslie Whitcomb, 18088 Gray Oak Drive, Rough and Ready, CA 95975. 831-402-2497
EMAIL:Leslie Whitcomb <Leslie.Whitcomb97@gmail.com>
NOTE: Registration
Form (located at
the bottom of this page)
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Current research
indicates that direct exposure to nature "is essential for
healthy childhood development" (Louv, 2005).
Environment-based
education improves standardized test scores and creativity is
stimulated by being outdoors. At the same time, government studies
indicate that we spend, on the average, 90% of our time indoors
(Cohen, 1989). Child advocacy expert Richard Louv emphasizes
this statement in his recent book Last Child in the Woods
(Louv, 2005). Louv calls our indoor-bound mentality 'nature-deficit
disorder.'
NOTE: This course
has been updated to include recent discoveries about the true nature of
Nature around and in us and their remedy. Our excessive disconnection
from the wisdom of nature’s whole of life plants the seeds of
discontent that produce our wide range of personal, social and
environmental disorders. It gives educators and counselor
specific skills for self nourishment to support themselves on their
busy schedules.
Visit the update as Eco500 Part One at www.ecopsych.com/orient.html
This class
addresses Louv's "nature-deficit disorder" and provides statements with research that indicates
children are inside too much. This points to some disturbing
childhood trends such as obesity, Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD) and depression. It is a
gateway for teachers and environmental educators to explore an
educational and creative experience in nature via the web-of-life
paradigm, art, poetry and natural sensory awareness.
By the end
of this course participants will be able to use and teach elementary
school students the benefits of interactions with nature that
enhances their appreciation for nature, their sense of well-being,
as well as understand the organic interconnection of all life
(i.e. Web-of-Life paradigm) in an artistic and poetic way.
Upon completion of this
course students will:
1. Understand an integrative
new insight to the profound interconnections of biological, social,
cultural and physical phenomena that comprise the scientific
definition of the web-of-life.
2. Understand the concept of
natural sensory-connections that allows us to be an active participant
in this web-of-life construct.
3. Write nature-oriented poetry.
4. Help students to write poetry
that open bonds between themselves and nature, and to further
validate the sensory learning experience.
5. Actively use inherent senses
to determine personal attractions in nature and more fully understand
the complex web-of-life model and how humans play an active role
in the process by directing their attention to multiple sensory
bonds in nature.
6. Learn the process of natural
sensory awareness which recognizes the intrinsic value of all
living beings and sees humans as a vibrant string in the web-of-live
construct.
7. To learn interspecies ways
of thinking critically via enhanced sensory awareness that reconnects
with and heeds natural callings within ourselves, others and
natural areas, and to express this in art and poetry;
8. To use nature to enhance
the innate artistic and poetic ability in all humans.
9. To enjoy nature's enchantment
within and about us, and to learn how to know nature as nature
knows itself.
Course Background
This course is a peace education
vehicle designed as a consultant tool for UNESCO to
help meet the mandate for environmentally sound personal growth
and social justice as described in the Charter of the United
Nations.
Offered cooperatively by PSU
and Project NatureConnect. All fees payable to Portland State
University, Continuing Education/Graduate School of Education
with the School of Extended Studies.
Enrollment is limited to 8
credits per term unless officially admitted to PUS (except Summer
term when enrollment is limited to 16 graduate or 21 undergraduate
credits).
Make payment to PSU
Reference
Louv, Richard (2005). Last Child in the Woods: Saving
our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder. North Carolina: Algonquin
Books of Chapel Hill
Registration Form
PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Continuing Education
Graduate School of Education
Please
copy and fill out this form. Postal Mail it to Leslie Whitcomb,
along with a check made out to Leslie Whitcomb or via a PayPal station
to <leslielynn13@gmail.com>
Leslie Whitcomb, 18088 Gray Oak Drive, Rough and Ready, CA 95975. 831-402-2497
EMAIL:Leslie Whitcomb <Leslie.Whitcomb97@gmail.com>
Course Fees:
$65/one credit (10 contact
hours)
$100/two credits (20 contact
hours)
$60.00 to PSU for each credit
Course:
( ) Explore Nature's Wisdom:
Create Moments That Let Earth Teach. Using nature, poetry
and art as a gateway to discovering creative sensory-awareness
in nature.
( ) One credit
( ) Two credits (to earn two credits you must complete the course
and then repeat it as a mentor to another student assigned to
you).
Date:
Social Security Number:
LAST NAME:
FIRST NAME:
MIDDLE INITIAL:
PREVIOUS LAST NAME:
MAILING ADDRESS:
ZIP, STATE:
HOME PHONE ( )
E-MAIL ADDRESS (please print
clearly--this is how we will contact you)
EMPLOYER:
POSITION:
( )FEMALE ( )MALE U.S. CITIZEN
( )
PERMANENT U. S. RESIDENT
( ) STUDENT VISA ( )
BACHELORS DEGREE ( ) YES
( ) NO
DATE OF BIRTH:
TERM: ( ) FALL ( ) WINTER
( ) SPRING
YEAR:
COURSE TITLE: Explore Nature's Wisdom:
Create Moments That Let Earth Teach.
COURSE REFERENCE NUMBER
(CRN):
CI 808
DEPARTMENT AND NUMBER: K2784FG (graduate)
( ) CI (CURRICULUM INSTRUCTION-EDUCATION
COURSE) OR
( ) COUN (COUNSELING COURSE)
( ) GRADUATE OR ( ) UNDERGRADUATE
CREDIT?
( ) NUMBER OF CREDITS
( ) FIRST PSU OR CONTINUING
EDUCATION REGISTRATION
( ) CONTINUING FROM LAST
TERM
( ) RETURNING AFTER AN ABSENCE
(LAST TERM ATTENDED_______)
( ) CHECK ENCLOSED PAYABLE
TO: PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
SIGNATURE:___________________________________________
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