Mindfulness and Contemplative Pedagogy in the Classroom

PURPOSE:

This professional development workshop is designed to introduce teachers and professors to Contemplative Pedagogy as a tool for the art and art history classroom, as well as provide them with hands-on activities that they utilize in employing this pedagogical practice.

OUTLINE:

1. Introduction (3 Mins)
2. What is Contemplative Pedagogy? (6 mins)

• What are the benefits of embracing CP? (4 mins)

1. How to use CP as a tool in the arts classroom
   1. “Tree of Contemplative Practices” (3 mins)
   2. Jenny: Opening Contemplation Exercise (multisensory) (6 mins)
   3. Gina: Magazine Poetry (6 mins)
   4. Jenny: Intense Visual Analysis as Mindfulness (6 mins)
   5. Gina: Self Portrait of Things (6 mins)
2. Open discussion: calling on the resources in the room. What other activities embrace CP? (14 mins)
3. Point in direction of resource list (shared Googledoc link) (3 mins)

• Conclusion / Continuation of Discussion (shared online forum link) (3 mins)

DESCRIPTION OF SET UP:

• Set up would be “standard.”
• Screen for PowerPoint, computer, speakers for music, microphones for two presenters
• Any arrangement of chairs and/or tables facing the screen. We hope to have the participants engage in conversation and some activity, but nothing that require moving furniture. Our point is that this methodology is simple enough to be done wherever with whatever is around you.