Faculty Reading Circle on Contemplative Practices Session 2

Contemplative practices such as mindfulness meditation, compassionate listening, journaling, circle processes, and movement practices such as gentle yoga or certain martial arts, all hold promise for deep learning by focusing on cultivating inner technologies: focus; concentration; stress management strategies; position-taking; empathy and connection; depth of synthesis and analysis; and/or body-mind connectedness. In this reading circle, participants will explore contemplative practices and vulnerability to deepen learning. We will read the book chapter, “Pedagogy of vulnerability: Definitions, assumptions & application” and experience contemplative practices such as “Quiet Centering” and compassionate listening.   Vulnerability is understood here as mutual self-disclosure, not knowing, and co-learning. These simple yet complex pedagogical practices invite deep learning into multiple disciplines and into your courses in higher education.

Participants will make progress toward:

• Experiencing contemplative practices (quiet centering meditation, journaling, and compassionate listening);
• Practicing mutual self-disclosure.
• Implementing contemplative practices in their courses to deepen learning.

Reading focus

• Brantmeier, E. J. (2013). Pedagogy of vulnerability: Definitions, assumptions & application. In Ling, J., Oxford, R., Brantmeier, E.J., (eds). Re-envisioning higher education: Embodied paths to wisdom and social transformation. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Additional recommended reading

• Brantmeier, E. J., & Mckenna, M. (Eds.) (2020) Pedagogy of vulnerability. Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

Note: The readings will be provided to registered participants.

About the facilitator

Edward J. Brantmeier, Ph.D., Professor in the Learning, Technology, and Leadership Education Department at James Madison University.

In 2009, Ed was a Fulbright-Nehru scholar who lectured about multicultural peace education peace at the Malaviya Centre for Peace Research at Banaras Hindu University in India, as well as several other institutions of higher education in India and Nepal. He has guest lectured for the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding, Eastern Mennonite University (USA) and for the UNESCO master’s program in Peace Studies at the University of Innsbruck, Austria.  At James Madison University (USA), he teaches courses on sustainable peace leadership, cross-cultural education, foundations of U.S. education, and guides graduate students through master's theses and dissertations.  He engages in diversity, inclusion, and equity initiatives across the university. He also consults with organizations on topics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and on increasing cultural competence via contemplative practices.

In terms of scholarship, Ed has published over 35 articles/book chapters, including six co-edited/co-written books: Transforming Education for Peace (2008); 147 Practical Tips for Teaching Peace and Reconciliation (2009); Spirituality, Religion, and Peace Education (2010); Re-envisioning Higher Education: Embodied Pathways to Wisdom and Social Transformation (2013); Pedagogy of Vulnerability (2020); and Culturally Competent Engagement: A Mindful Approach (2020). Additionally, Ed co-edited a special edition of the Journal of Peace Education that focused on critical peace education (2011). He served as a founding co-editor of a book series on peace education (14 volumes) with Information Age Publishing (2006-16).  He serves on the editorial board of Infactis Pax: Journal of Peace Education and Social Justice. Ed is the editor of the global/international Journal of Peace Education. Ed has presented his research on critical peace education, cultural competence, pedagogy, and related topics, in England, Cyprus, India, Nepal, Brazil, Germany, Austria, Nigeria, widely in the United States, and elsewhere.