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Project
NatureConnect
Present:
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 two credits is $170.
Instructor: Dr. Michael Cohen; Dr. Mardi Jones For information contact: 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.' He backs his 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. This class addresses "nature-deficit disorder" and provides 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 special NGO consultant tool of 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).
Reference
Registration Form PORTLAND STATE UNIVERSITY
Please copy and fill out
this form. Postal Mail it to the course registrar, Kay Brown, along with a check made out to Kay Brown: Course Fees: $85/one credit (10 contact hours) $170/two credit (20 contact hours)
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.
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 ( ) 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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