Easing off parentis: In locum facilitatoris fills body and mind

Educational institutions have become facilitation centers rather than teaching-learning hubs. And during this process of becoming, schools are attending to mindfulness and bodyfulness in new ways. Find out how and why this process has developed and what it means for colleges and collegians.

1. Easing off parentis : In locum facilitatoris fills body and mind Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 1

2. Easing off parentis : What’s that? What does it mean? What’s that? A recognition of a shift in control What does it mean? Change, innovation How is it happening? … via change in role of teachers : how v. what to learn … via change in admissions: ease entry to/for at-risk … via new PLC’s (Professional Learning Communities) Why? Recognition of societal need, student demand, & schools’ own need for self-lifesaving Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 2

3. But what is being eased ? What is/was “ parentis ”? 3 stages: 1 . In loco parentis , in place of the parent: In Rome, school replaced missing parents Rome taught trivium & quadrivium trivium : liberal arts, dialectics quadrivium : geometry, astronomy, music 2 . English Common Law: schools had parent role USA: schools commit to look after students 3 . Twentieth century worldwide: schools facilitate active, interactive full-mind, full-body practices Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 3

4. And how is “ parentis ” being eased into “ facilitatoris ” ? Begin with “ parentis ” = “in the place of the parent”, in Latin , then English In Roman law de jure : Child guardianship was directed by rules In life, de facto : adults learn & follow practices to protect the young In schools: teachers, admin transmit info to educate, train, socialize, enrich mentally… and? In 21 st century USA higher ed: teachers are facilitators , no longer sages on stage, but guides on the side, channeling mindfulness & bodyfulness into the learner Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 4

5. Easing : A pendulum swing—for whom is higher ed? For the Greeks & Romans: the few, masculine, elite, credulous, cloistered For less cloistered, and yet still for the few, the men, the wealthy For the world : schools as development hubs, offering connectivity For the Americans, all things for all? Or…. Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 5

6. swinging, or easing, toward facilitatoris What? Rediscovery of raison d’être: We’re here to help learning happen! When? When world of work is more important than world of knowledge Why? Real-life needs overwhelm & distract; theoretical engulfed by real How? Facilitate learning & application for “real world of work” Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 6

7. the effective facilitator … Focusses on outcome Maintains momentum & energy Has at least 3 roles: architect, pilot, guide Remains supra-disciplinary Stands as a guide on the side Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 7

8. facilitating allows the institution to…. encourage foster collaboration help students overcome fear help students become self-directed provide leadership without taking the reins concentrate less on academics alone & more on whole persons Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 8

9. The new facilitatoris allows schools to ease… …transition from high school or work into an academic environment …mental stress, confusion, fear …physical stress, tension, fatigue …emotional distress, depression, demands And then, ultimately, into mindfulness and bodyfulness Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 9

10. Facilitating body & mind : MBSR, MBCT, and bodies Universalized by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Univ. of Massachusetts Neuroembodyment : Reconnect physical & mental selves via meditation MBSR & MBCT: Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction & Cognitive Therapy Basic principles, now disseminated worldwide: Contemplation of things & people as they are, without judgment Acceptance of oneself & one’s environs, “being here now” Retention of excitement, awe, “the spirit of the beginner’s mind” Creation & nurturing of achievable step-by-step goals Valuing what one has, rather than searching continuously for more Confidence, patience, and perseverance Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 10

11. Facilitatoris : Bodyfulness What: Embodied cognition, joining body & environment through cognition How: Learning about oneself & oneself in relation to others, extrarationality When : From day one Where : Examples from around the world to emulate: Universidad Europea de Madrid, Ministry of Science & Inno: Dance Middlebury College, Usa: Experiential anatomy Thich Nhat Hang, Vietnam: Mindful breathing Why? To recognize importance of physical activity in balanced lifestyle To enrich a supportive ed. environment for academic & personal growth Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 11

12. Facilitatoris : Mindfulness What : Workshops, courses, resources to manage stress & improve focus How : Train faculty, staff, & admin in ways to engage students in themselves When : From admission to enrollment to entry into campus life Where : Examples to emulate: United Kingdom: (national) Mindfulness in Schools for staff & students Univ. Wisconsin, Usa: Pruitt Center Univ. of Oxford, UK: Research ctr. to promote mental health & human flourishing Uppsala Univ., Sweden: Mindfulness-based stress mgmt : be purposeful, aware Why : To make schools into safe environments for active, interactive learning To integrate the whole mind, to empower the querying critical thinker To make schools “comprehensive” & learners comprehended Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 12

13. Mindfulness, bodyfulness , both? Facilitating—how so? Habits of mind that may also be of body : Which are which? Does it matter? Capacity both to take risks and to ask for help, developing humility Ability to take responsibility & learn when to cooperate & collaborate Knowing when & how to develop healthier habits & relations Time management & procrastination avoidance Expansion of consciousness Critical thinking Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 13

14. Facilitatoris : Why now? Why? Why now ? Connection has become (more?) complex betw . school-faculty-students “Holistic” has become the name of the game, with teachers having to be multi-sport academic-psychiatric athletes Why ? The examined life is worth a lot The “ethics” of academe lack human and humane substance Education is no longer “formative”; it’s “transformative” Schools are feeling the need to change their role from parentis & academic into…? Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 14

15. Don’t do something; just stand there, and we’ll facilitate that: Here’s how In a world where many feel emptied of strength, mindful & bodyful outlooks can open new windows into new worlds A shift in emphasis from teaching what we know (top-down, vertically) to sharing what we know you will have to know (horizontally) A shift in raison d’être : Schools are no longer barracks for book-learners, but resource centers for seekers In an epoch when the past may seem irrelevant and the future as yet unattainable, mindfulness & bodyfulness enrich the present Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 15

16. Easing, three two one 3 : Cite 3 things/ideas that you have discovered in this presentation 2 : Cite 2 things/ideas that have made you curious to know more 1 : Cite (at least!) 1 thing/idea that you want to share with others Dr. Katherine Watson, [email protected], Santiago Canyon College, CA. 16