The Hidden Wholeness: Paradox in Teaching and Learning

1. The Hidden Wholeness: Paradox in Teaching and Learning By: Susan E. Zinner, Assistant Professor, School of Public and Environmental Affairs Indiana University Northwest

2. Parker Palmer and good teaching John Lantos asked Do We Still Need Doctors? Parker Palmer asks, not do we still need teachers, but whether the same class taught by two individuals is the same class Key to good teaching located in the selfhood of the teacher Less focus on pedagogy

3. We Are Trained to �Think the World Apart� Education often adopts an �either-or� approach May �destroy the wholeness and wonder of life�

4. Paradoxes in Education 1. Separating the head from the heart; 2. Separating facts from feeling; 3. Separating theory from practice; 4. Separating theory from practice; and 5. Separating teaching from learning.

5. Paradoxes in Classroom Design 1. Space should be open and bounded. Space should be hospitable and �charged.� Space should invite the voice of the individual and the voice of the group. Space should honor the �little� stories of the individual and the �big� stories of the discipline.

6. Paradoxes in Classroom Design (con�t.) Space should support solitude and surround it with the resources of the community. Space should welcome both silence and speech.

7. IUN Responses: Colleague support Discussions of successes and failures at faculty meetings at end of semester.

8. Paradoxes in Spring 2005 Graduate student A.U. Date lesson learned: February 7, 2005 Lesson learned: Boundaries and rules are useful, but real learning opportunities can occur outside of the rules (and student can serve as an example to her classmates).

9. Paradoxes in Spring 2005 (con�t.) Graduate student: D.T. Date lesson learned: January 26, 2005 Lesson learned: Establishing an atmosphere were students are comfortable discussing their views may result in uncomfortable comments; this can still be a valuable experience.

10. Paradoxes in Spring 2004 (con�t.) Undergraduate student: J.A.H. Date lesson learned: January 2004 Lesson learned: Displays of emotion can serve to bond the class together; life events affect the classroom as well as home life.