This week we think about sustainability and how we can learn about and adapt more sustainable learning practices within our own communities and those around the world.

Videos:

Please watch the following videos this week:

Warriors without Weapons in Santos Brazil (~6 minutes). See other videos from around the world on the Walk Out Walk On website.

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Two Loops, How Systems Change (~7 minutes). Learn more about the Berkana Institute here.

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Readings(s), Optional:

The following optional readings build upon this week's topic:

• What is Education For? by David Orr, Oberlin College (*Note: This short essay is a highly recommended read for framing the issue of sustainability.)
• Learning to Be... Sustainable edited by John Blewitt and Cedric Cullingford, pages 32-34 (offered for free on Google Books) within The Sustainability Curriculum: The Challenge for Higher Education
• Transformative Tools for Sustainability Education prepared by Julie Johnston and Peter Carter for the World Environmental Education Conference in Durban, South Africa in 2007
• Joi Ito's Near Perfect Explanation of the Next 100 Years by Christopher Mims, Technology Review (MIT)

Discussion Questions:

Please discuss the following questions below. Then throughout the week, try to respond to at least two other comments from your colleagues.

• What does it mean to educate the whole person? Do you consider your definition to apply globally or within a specific community? 
• What are the components of a holistic education? Feel free to share examples from "real life" education systems and places.
• To what extent was "finding your North star" (Martha Beck) or realizing your "flow" (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) emphasized in your own upbringing? How did this impact who you are today? 
• How does the concept of "happiness" fit into "holistic education"?
• How can you bring more holistic learning practices into your own life?
• What themes from this week's videos and/or readings really resonated with you?
• Please respond to at least 2 other comments from your colleagues this week.

Skype Discussion, Optional:

• The optional 1-hour Skype discussion this week will be:

  • July 1 (Sunday): 11:30am Eastern Standard Time ("New York" time).

  • To calculate what time this is in your time zone, Google "Time in New York". Then calculate the time difference between New York and your own time zone. For example, 11:30am EST is 7:30pm Dubai time.

• If you plan to join the optional Skype discussion, please email Anna (anna at boneducation dot com) and let her know that you will be joining the call before the call begins. Also include your Skype user name. 

• If you cannot make the optional Skype discussion time, you are welcome to organize and facilitate another group call with your colleagues.