From the social sciences to the humanities, and the hard sciences to business and law, contemplative approaches to higher education have been creatively and effectively developed to stabilize and sharpen concentration and attention, deepen the understanding of course material, engender and foster compassion and connection, and encourage and support creativity and insight. Bringing together leading practitioners from the fields of Physics, Economics, Social Work, Law, Business, Religion, Neuroscience, Music, English, Political Science, Environmental Policy, and Chemistry, Contemplative Practices in Higher Education showcases the use and effectiveness of contemplative practices in any discipline.
Chapter contributors explain and describe the benefits and motivation for contemplative practices, their implementation and outcomes, the pitfalls and problems that can arise from using this pedagogy, and how these practices can be applied to other disciplines. For those already familiar with contemplative practices or for those entirely new to this pedagogy, Contemplative Practices in Higher Education provides insights into innovative teaching and learning practice. This book is an important resource for those who want to improve their teaching and make education a richer and more meaningful experience both for students and their instructors.
Table of Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction Daniel Barbezat and Arthur Zajonc
Part I. Enhancing and Stabilizing Attention/Awareness
Chapter 2: Creative Attention Patricia Wallace
Chapter 3: Practically Impractical: Contemplative Practices in Science Michelle M. Francl
Chapter 4: Classroom as Dojo: Contemplative Learning Goes Neural and Martial Heesoon Bai, Avraham Cohen & Sean Park
Part II. Deepening the Understanding of the Course Material
Chapter 5: Contemplative Practices and Teaching the Economics of Desire Daniel Barbezat
Chapter 6: Reconstructing Classical Daoist Meditation in the Classroom Harold D. Roth
Chapter 7: Legal Education As Contemplative Inquiry: An Integrative Approach to Professional Identity Development, Law Practice and the Substance of the Law We Make Rhonda V. Magee
Part III. Increasing Compassion and Connection
Chapter 8: Teaching the Psychology of Empathy and Compassion from Contemplative and Scientific Perspectives Alfred W. Kaszniak & Dev Ashish
Chapter 9: Taking Effective Action: Internal Training for External Results Jeremy Hunter
Chapter 10: Contemplative Environmental Studies Paul Wapner
Part IV. Cultivating Creativity and Insight
Chapter 11: Meditation, Improvisation, and Paradigmatic Change: Integrity of Practice as Key to Successful Advocacy Ed Sarath
Chapter 12: Thinking like Einstein: Analytic Meditation and Calm Abiding Arthur Zajonc
Chapter 13: Words and Sense: Contemplative Pedagogies in Academic Writing Judith Simmer-Brown
Chapter 14: Conclusion Daniel Barbezat and Arthur Zajonc
About the Author :
Daniel Barbezat is Professor of Economics, Amherst College and Executive Director of the Contemplative Mind in Society.
Arthur Zajonc is Professor of Physics, Amherst College and President of Mind and Life Institute.
