Item – Theses Canada

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OCLC number
55744342
Link(s) to full text
LAC copy
LAC copy
Author
Kates, Isabella Colalillo.
Title
Awakening creativity and spiritual intelligence : the soul work of holistic educators.
Degree
Ed. D. -- University of Toronto, 2002
Publisher
Ottawa : National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, [2003]
Description
4 microfiches.
Notes
Includes bibliographical references.
Abstract
The evolving nature of human consciousness compels us to redefine what education is for and to expand how we teach, learn, think and live as educators and learners. Holistic education is at the forefront of reconceptualising educative practices and curricula that dynamise personal and systems transformation. Holistic learning, rooted in perennial philosophy, exercises "second tier thinking" characterised by the reflexive, world centric affiliative constructs of pluralism and relativism. Its transpersonal practices nurture levels of wholeness through personal transformation. At the heart of holistic learning are educators taking charge of their personal and professional growth by developing reflective, insightful practices rooted in transformative principles. In studying their work, we discover the soulful and spiritualising value of learning activities that restore wholeness and wonder. Researching their praxis contributes practical ideas and new psychotechnologies for nourishing creativity in modern education. Qualitative research tools, such as narrative, are best suited to studying the human perspectives of holistic educational praxis. This study, using a narrative voice as a method of inquiry, describes the work of three educators who have developed models of creative activities committed to actualising transpersonal and spiritual consciousness. Principles of caring and authenticity inform their educational encounters and attend to the learner's transformation through self-integration. Their practices foster inner balance and nurture soulful connections among self, subject and community. They seek to develop multidimensional levels of intelligence, including spiritual intelligence--a dynamic, holistic cognition that synergises the concrete intelligences (characterised by physical, emotional and logical intelligences) with higher order intelligence (exemplified by imagination, intuition and vision). Imaginal and aesthetic tools awaken such qualities of the self/Self as presence, aliveness and joy of learning, encouraging learners to make inner and outer connections that cultivate spiritual intelligence. Their novel, holistic approaches articulate the value of communion and create meaningful opportunities for learners to experience creativity and self-reflective awareness through creative visualisation, meditation and aesthetic contemplation. When used with the expressive arts--such as creative writing, these modalities encourage learners to animate deeper connections within the self/Self and discover creativity, wholeness, purpose, insight, self-awareness, harmony and love as integral aspects of learning and living.
ISBN
0612748057
9780612748057