Chapter 1 Assignment
Your Chapter One Assignment
Assignments Due at the Time of Our Discussion Class:
Meditate on a daily basis utilizing the recordings for this section
Read all the information in this chapter
Respond to all of the Free Write opportunities
There are many free writes within each “Lesson”. Please pick one of your free writes from each lesson and enter it into the comments section of that Lesson’s Blog Post. This means that for this section you will submit 3 responses total.
Assignments Due at the Time of Our Teaching Class:
Written Presentation: An approximately 5-minute or 500 Word essay that introduces the topic of your work. For this assignment we have looked at a few options for this— starting and sustaining a spiritual practice, the power of stillness, and the purpose of pranayama. Any of these three would be a great topic to focus on for your introductory essay/presentation. This will set the stage for the practice that you teach later. Consider this as the lecture portion of a class that is giving students background information and perspective on meditation in order that your guided practice later can be based.
This should be posted in the comments section of the online blog so your instructors and fellow class mates can read it.
Recording of Your Oral Presentation and Guided Practice:
A 5-Minute YouTube Recording of yourself teaching your 5-minute presentation.
After you have done your 5 minute presentation, continue the recording as you guide a 5-7 minute meditation that instructs the student how to meditate with this Chapter’s theme:
1-2 minutes focused on guiding them into a Posture that emanates effort and ease
3-4 minutes guiding them into stillness itself through the use of any technique from the guided practices presented in this section, OR teaching them pranayama if that was your focus. .
A Link to this recording should be posted to the end of your presentation text in the comments section of this blog post.
Comments and Feedback:
If taking this training in a group format, then you are required to write a text comment for at least 2 other students posts/presentations. This means you will watch their presentation and meditate with their guidance.
If taking the training in a self-paced format, then please watch two other students presentations, and generate one comment about what you learned from that experience, putting that comment as a response to your own entry.
Feedback should be in the form a ‘Star and Wish’ or ‘compliment sandwich’, which is described below.
Additional Notes on Giving Feedback:
Feedback plays a vital role in the growth process of any new endeavor, serving as the essential refinement tool that enhances our understanding and performance. It complements the foundational work we undertake individually, such as meditation, study, editing, and creation, which forms the core of our training. While this foundational work is irreplaceable, feedback adds a layer of refinement, allowing us to recognize our strengths and areas for improvement more clearly. Ideally, feedback, whether given or received, should serve as a motivational and beneficial aspect of the learning journey, although we acknowledge its challenges.
When providing feedback, it's easy to overlook the positives and focus solely on areas for improvement. To counter this tendency, we start with highlighting "stars," the aspects that went well or were commendable. Following this positive note, we introduce "wishes," expressing aspects we wish to see more of or differently. Importantly, feedback should be delivered from a personal perspective, using "I" statements rather than generalizations, which makes it less personal for the receiver and less burdensome for the giver.
This formula of starting with a star, then expressing a wish from a personal viewpoint, facilitates productive feedback exchanges. While concluding with another star, known as the "compliment sandwich," is optional, it often provides a positive closing note. Additionally, we emphasize maintaining the perspective of a beginner when giving feedback, recognizing that our fellow students are also in a learning phase. Approaching feedback with an open mind, as if experiencing the topic or practice for the first time, allows for a more genuine and constructive evaluation.
Feedback, like any skill, improves with practice and a clear understanding of the desired outcome. While perfection isn't immediate, aiming for constructive and inspiring feedback aligns with our overarching goal. The concept of offering a star and a wish serves as a guiding principle, fostering a constructive and supportive feedback environment conducive to growth and development.
Additional Notes on Uploading to YouTube:
Before delving into YouTube's format or usage, it's crucial to clarify that all the work we undertake on YouTube will be unlisted. This means that it won't be searchable or accessible to the general public without the exact URL. This approach prioritizes your safety and security, especially in the learning environment we're creating which can be a vulnerable space. The pages we're working on as a group are password-protected, ensuring only students can access them, and the videos on YouTube will be unlisted as an additional layer of privacy.
That being said, it should also be noted that this setup offers some really unique benefits. For instance, while the videos won't be publicly available, you can still utilize your own video at a later time to show a prospective student, or as an additional resource in your classes. Additionally, having access to recordings of your teaching sessions allows for self-reflection and learning, while also offering insights from other students' experiences. This setup enhances the learning process and provides a valuable resource for your personal growth and development as a teacher.
We've opted to utilize YouTube as our platform for sharing videos due to its accessibility across all devices, including phones, tablets, and computers. While YouTube offers convenience, it's important to acknowledge that no sharing format is perfect. Each platform requires some level of patience and willingness to delve into technical details to ensure smooth operation. If you encounter any issues, such as a presentation not uploading correctly, please reach out to us, and we'll assist you in resolving the issue. We appreciate your patience and persistence as we navigate this process together. Rest assured, YouTube remains the simplest format we've found for sharing this type of work collectively.
How to Upload Videos to YouTube from your Phone:
A Quick Tutorial
Step by step of how to record your presentation, upload it to YouTube, and then post it here for feedback