MA in Education
Holistic and Integrative Education Option National and International Recognition
Bob London, Program Coordinator
As described elsewhere, the MA program in Education, Holistic and Integrative Education Option, has been evaluated as an effective and transformative program by its students. This document summarizes national and international recognition of the program (entries are for Bob London, program coordinator and/or Sam Crowell, program faculty; limited to two examples for each category).
- Research studies. We have been interviewed for five major research studies in three countries (US, Canada and Australia) primarily concerning the pedagogy of the program; for example, (a) identified as one of three exemplar transformative programs in higher education in a study sponsored by the Fetzer Institute and described in the Journal of Transformative Education, and (b) a research study "of faculty members who are concerned with holistic teaching and learning practices," Dr. Rendon, Veffie Milstead Jones Endowed Chair, CSULB, published in the book, "Sentipensante pedagogy: Educating for wholeness, social justice and liberation."
- Conference Presessions: We were invited and conducted three major presessions for conferences; for example, (a) "Principles of holistic and transformative learning in higher education settings," 2005 Holistic Education Conference, University of Toronto. One of six three-hour pre-conference workshops. (b) "Transformative approaches to teacher education"; international invited summit "Reclaiming wholeness: Welcoming an integrative vision and transformative practice in education" in March 2007. Sam and I collaborated with Richard Brown, Naropa University, and Dr. Jack Miller, University of Toronto.
- Professional presentations and papers: We have presented on the pedagogy of the program at several professional conferences; for example, (a) "A constructive post-modern approach to higher education pedagogy consistent with a holistic philosophy," AERA (American Educational Research Association) National Convention, San Francisco, 2006, and (b) "Transformative approaches to teacher education", 2009 international Holistic Education Conference, Univ. of Toronto.
- Invited participant: Bob London has been an invited participant in a number of small gatherings of leaders in the field of holistic and transformative education; for example, (a) Naropa University 2007 Contemplative Pedagogy Seminar and (b) Garrison Institute: Contemplative Approaches to Teacher Education; 2007.
- External reviewer for several dissertations (from three countries) on holistic education; for example, (a) "A study of adolescent transformation (subtitle)", Peta Heywood, LaTrobe University, Australia, and (b) "Contemplative educator's practical knowledge towards holistic teacher education," Sookee Im, University of Toronto.
- We have attracted out-of-state and international leaders in the field (for travel costs only) to keynote at our quarterly gatherings for holistic educators, including Abelardo Brenes, University of Peace, Costa Rica, and Jack Miller, University of Toronto.
- Bob London has had two book chapters accepted on the pedagogy of the program and its transformative approach.