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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