Contemplative Learning: SEDA Day School

There is a growing interest in contemplative approaches to education: bringing knowledge, understanding and practice of stillness, quietness, mindfulness into an increasingly pressured HE (and FE) environment. We propose an experiential day school that will model a contemplative approach and will also enable colleagues to place contemplative learning within the context of relevant literature in the field. This event will build on the SEDA-funded labyrinth-making event held at the University of Westminster in April 2012 as well as on the University of Westminster’s Learning and Teaching Symposium held in July 2013 when a ‘Mindfulness’ workshop was held and received with considerable interest. It will create a reflective space in which colleagues can share and experience some contemplative practices and will offer participants the opportunity to:· 

• Explore the concept of contemplative learning and its potential within HE;
•  Develop their awareness of the growing literature on contemplative learning;  
• Become familiar with practical examples of contemplative learning in different HE contexts; 
• Experience some contemplative practices including a labyrinth walk; 
• Share reflections on how contemplative approaches might aid their own pedagogic practice or their work in student or staff development. 

Target audience:· 

• Staff and educational developers (SEDA); 
• Learning developers (ALDinHE); 
• Academic colleagues from any discipline with an interest in exploring this topic; 
• Colleagues in other support/developmental services.