What is contemplative pedagogy? 

These are practices to which “human beings across cultures and time, have found to concentrate,broaden, deepen conscious awareness as the gateway to cultivating their full potential and leading more meaningful and fulfilling lives” (Ergas, 2019). Citation: A Contemplative Turn In Education 

It requires that mindfulness is “positioned as a means for personal and social transformation” (Sellman & Buttarazzi, 2019). Citation: Adding Lemon Juice to Poison 

Reading – Assigned texts are more intentional and contemplative in order to foster deep thinking and transformative understanding.  Reading aloud can highlight different aspects of a text.

Discussions – are paired with active listening in preparation for difficult conversations or thoughts that are considered meaningless or outside personal experiences. 

Writing – that is intentional and deliberately slower encourages reflection and thoughtfulness especially when deliberating difficult concepts.  

Curriculum

Creating the space:

1. Make clear that all practices are voluntary 

2. Students are to participate only if comfortable and prepared

3. Suggest that students do free writing or silent reflection

4. The syllabus should include the above demarcations 

5. Practices range from 2 to 10 minutes

Contemplative group or paired work

1. Remind students that personal revelations are to remain confidential and not discussed outside of class

2. Remind students to remain sensitive, supportive and instructive when invited to give feedback

Exercises

1. Deep Reading

2. Deep Listening

3. Contemplative Writing

4. Discussions

Websites:

• • https://www.contemplativemind.org/practices

  • https://stillpoint.appstate.edu/resources/examples-contemplative-practices-higher-education

  • https://www.montclair.edu/faculty-advancement/current-development-programs/contemplative-pedagogy-program/contemplative-practice-examples/

Articles

• •  Contemplative Practices-A Strategy To Improve Health and Reduce Disparities

  •  Classical Physics and Human Embodiment: The Role of Contemplative Practice in Integrating Formal Theory and Personal Experience in the Undergraduate Physics Curriculum

  • Contemplative WAC: Testing a Mindfulness-based Reflective Writing Assignment Across Courses

  • Democratizing Engineering Education Through Contemplative and Mindfulness Practices

  • Contemplative Education: How Contemplative Practices Can Support and Improve Education

  • Contemplative Leadership in Organizations

  • Contemplative Leadership: The Possibilities for the Ethics of Leadership Theory and Practice