My Philosophy of Teaching and Learning                         

I prefer an interactive, egalitarian model of teaching and learning, which makes learning a responsibility that is shared by both teacher and student, rather than a model in which providing the commodity of information is the sole concern. Usable knowledge comes from being actively engaged in the discovery and construction of that knowledge. An important part of the discovery of truth is the truth within yourself.

My approach is to assist you to become more familiar with your own developmental experiences, as well as your own growth process. Autobiographical writing is used to increase self-understanding, through a clearer sense of personal struggles, transitions, and resolutions, as well as for a deeper understanding of human growth and development in general.

My role is to engage you in an on-going process of reflection, to make the course a cooperative learning experience, where, as self-directed learners sharing your discoveries, you learn as much from yourself and from each other as from me or any of the texts.  As I construct and engage you in meaningful learning opportunities, you become active creators of knowledge. When that collaborative process works well, we all become co-learners and co-teachers.

Together we can create a framework within which our community of learners may discover what a community of truth is, where you can identify and speak your own truth, while having it respected by others. This means being open to new perspectives, seeing for yourselves, looking carefully at all the sights, even those that may be familiar, sometimes looking from a different angle than the one you are used to, and being fully present, awake, and aware each moment, not missing a thing.

In basing my teaching on care, guidance, reflection, acceptance, shared meaning, and connection, we may tap into the reservoir of the spirit. As with truth, spirituality is subjective. It is what is personally sacred, it is what matters most, it is what one most passionately loves,  it is a deep respect for the mysteries of life. Spirituality is what draws us to and connects us with all of life. My courses ultimately attempt to help uncover this wholeness within you.

My philosophy of teaching and learning is founded upon four qualities, each a force in bringing the learning community closer together.

1.)  The freedom to recognize our connection with all of creation; 

2.)  The humility to see all learning as a gift;

3.)  A valuing of diversity, through which we can experience our unity; 

4.)  A search for truth, through which we may find spirit.

My philosophy of teaching and learning is meant to reflect who I am. My teaching is designed to get to the heart of education; when it does, it becomes a sacred journey for all of us.