8.8: Weeks 13 and 14
- Page ID
- 231873
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Weeks Thirteen and Fourteen Narrative
As I mentioned in the introduction, I left open two class sessions to be developed as the semester goes on. These two classes fall in Week Thirteen although they could easily have been placed at an earlier point in the semester
Possible class topics could include topics specifically suggested by students or that arise organically during the term. Further, the current syllabus does not have a specific class dedicated to gratitude, which could be a valuable addition. Although gratitude will come up in several practices, a specific class devoted to it would add value. Brother David Steindl-Rast, well known as a proponent of gratitude, has a lovely five-minute video entitled A Good Day. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gm-G_4c5a8. His website is replete with good resources. https://grateful.org/brother-david/. And that I get to mention a website of a 98-year-old Benedictine monk seems to me to be marvelous wonder in and of itself!
Another possibly for the open classes is to have mid-semester meetings with individual students, which could lead to the cancelling of a class. Or the class could be structured as a mini-retreat in which the entirety of class time could be used to do several practices.
For the last week of the class, I start out with students taking a short trip to our campus’s labyrinth. I placed this towards the end of the semester largely because I am hoping for warmish weather towards the end of April in Massachusetts! For institutions that do not have a labyrinth, there is a good resource for labyrinths in higher education institutions. See: https://veriditas.org/higher-ed-initiative.
Prior to this labyrinth walk, I will have students do some reading on labyrinths and will have already facilitate walking meditations as a part of class practice. Also, some of the external resources that I distribute also have guided walking meditations.
The very last session of the semester will be a class-long reflection. Students will have written a reflection paper longer than their usual reflection papers, one in which they look back at what they've learned from the semester and what they hope to take forward. I had contemplated asking students to do a personal mindfulness plan to help them continue with the practice going forward. Although I chose not to do that, it is an option to consider. I also will have this session involve food, as that's generally a fun and connective way to end a seminar, especially one in which students have shared many personal experiences.
A longer paper—perhaps one that involves research into various mindfulness topics—would certainly also be a possibility for this course.