“A Sustainable Life: Quaker Faith and Practice in the Renewal of Creation”
A Pendle Hill Online Course
September 5 through November 20, 2016
COURSE OVERVIEW
“We are come to times when a list of technical ‘solutions’ will not address the reinforcing processes of environmental and social change we see unfolding. Another way of life will be enforced upon us, which must include joy. Quakerism has the spiritual resources to face rigorous times, testifying to freedom, resilience, love, truth, and hope.” —Brian Drayton, New England Friend
This course, taught by Doug Gwyn, is an opportunity to reframe Quaker faith and practice within the horizon of the global concern for sustainability, the horizon that has redefined our lives for the 21st century. This reframing allows us to reclaim the Quaker tradition with fresh understanding and renewed purpose. Quaker faith and practice offers a way we can sustain together our work for a sustainable world. Everything from personal spiritual practice, to meeting for worship, to decisions made in unity, and the Quaker testimonies are all of one piece when we view them through the lens of a sustainable life.
This course will be most useful to those with some Quaker experience. It may be less useful to seekers who are exploring Quakerism for the first time (see this January’s online course, “Exploring the Quaker Way,” if that is your focus). The course is built around the instructor’s book A Sustainable Life: Quaker Faith and Practice in the Renewal of Creation, but will draw upon some Pendle Hill pamphlets as well. Through the course processes of study, personal reflection, webinars with guest presenters, and deep dialogue, an online learning community will go further than one usually gets simply by reading. This course features webinar conversations with Quaker writers and activists Steve Chase, Marcelle Martin, Brian Drayton, Pamela Boyce Simms, Eileen Flanagan, and Ruah Swennerfelt.
Group discounts are available! If 2 to 3 members of your meeting sign up, the course fee will be $400 per person. If four or more sign up, it will be $300 per person. Please contact Steve Chase to reserve your group discount at schase@pendlehill.org or (610) 566-4507, ext. 123.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
CORE FACULTY
Doug is a former resident teacher at Pendle Hill, where he first taught the course that became the book, A Sustainable Life. He is a long-time student of Quaker thought and the author of books on early Friends. His work with Quaker history has always been based in a present-day concern, and this course brings that history to bear on the Quaker concern for sustainability. Besides teaching at the Pendle Hill and Woodbrooke Quaker study centers, Doug has also worked with the American Friends Service Committee and served as a Friends pastor. He is currently part-time pastoral minister with the Durham (Maine) Friends Meeting. Click here to hear an interview with Doug Gwyn.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
DATES & FORMAT
The course begins with a one-week orientation, September 5 through 11. During that week, students will log onto the course website, update their personal profiles, download a detailed course guide, read the first course reading, take an online posting challenge, and post an introduction and a personal response to the initial reading.
The main body of the course will run for the succeeding 11 weeks, September 12 through November 20. Besides reading and responding online to a chapter of the book and an additional short reading per week, students will also engage some weeks in an additional reflective or experiential exercise. Many weeks will feature a webinar group discussion on readings and/or with a course guest.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
COURSE COSTS
Tuition for this 12-week online course is $500. This tuition covers the instructor’s honorarium, the online learning management system, the webinar video software, and the Pendle Hill pamphlets that are required reading for the course (available for download by students on the course site). The course book, A Sustainable Life: Quaker Faith and Practice in the Renewal of Creation, will need to be purchased separately. It is available in hard copy for $14.95 or as an e-pub for $6.50 from QuakerBooks.
We encourage those who need financial support to cover any of these costs to reach out to their local Friends meetings for possible scholarship assistance. If a local meeting wishes to have three or more members participate in this course, special group rates may be arranged.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
- A tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with a built-in or external video camera, speakers, and mic;
- Hi-Speed Internet Access; and
- An up-to-date web browser (Mozilla Firefox is highly recommended and available online as a free download).
>>> Click here to register online <<<
BASIC EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS
Upon Acceptance
- Order the course book from QuakerBooks;
During the Orientation Period
- Log on and familiarize yourself with the course website;
- Take the Advance Posting Challenge to learn how to use the site;
- Read the Course Guide and post any questions you have about the course;
- Post an introduction of yourself to the other course participants; and
- Post a short description of your own journey towards Quakerism and your current relationship with the Religious Society of Friends.
During Each Regular Week of the Course
- Read an average of 50 pages a week;
- Post a couple of original posts reflecting on the readings; and
- Respond to posts from other participants to create a dialog about the readings.
During Webinars
- Set aside time to actively participate in as many of the five or six video webinar presentations as you can (the webinar dates will be scheduled once everyone has registered for the course); and
- If you can’t make it to one of the live webinars scheduled, watch a recording of it soon after.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
IS AN ONLINE COURSE RIGHT FOR YOU?
The Illinois Online Network has analyzed many research studies about online education and have distilled the top eight characteristics of successful online students. According to their review, the most successful online learners are:
- Open-minded about sharing personal life, work, and educational experiences with others as part of the learning process;
- Able to communicate well through writing;
- Self-motivated and self-disciplined;
- Willing and able to commit five to ten hours per week on course work;
- Able to understand that online learning is challenging and hard work;
- Open to the idea that high-quality learning can actually take place without going to a traditional classroom;
- Able to think ideas through before responding–and to clean up confusing wording and mechanics before hitting the send button;
- Are comfortable with the computer hardware and software needed to participate in the course.
If these characteristics describe you, then this course will likely serve you well. If not, you might be better served by a face-to-face educational offering.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
REGISTRATION INFO
Registration will run through September 5. The course will be capped at 30 students, so signing up early is advised. People who try to register after the first 30 students have signed up and paid their tuition fees will be placed on a waiting list, and if they are not admitted will be given advance notice when the course is offered again.
>>> Click here to register online <<<
CANCELLATION POLICY
A $50 processing fee is charged for all cancellations. Cancellations made at least 14 days before the start of the program will result in a refund. Cancellations made between 14 days prior to — and 7 days after — the start date of the program will result in a credit toward another program or stay at Pendle Hill up to one year after the start date. No credit or refund will be given for cancellations made after the first week of the course.
QUESTIONS?
If you have any additional questions, please contact Steve Chase, Director of Education, at 610-566-4507, ext. 123.
Group discounts are available! If 2 to 3 members of your meeting sign up, the course fee will be $400 per person. If four or more sign up, it will be $300 per person. Please contact Steve Chase to reserve your group discount at schase@pendlehill.org or (610) 566-4507, ext. 123.
