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Re: E-correspondence PDC's




Regarding correspondence, weekend, and two week format I think that all 
three get the information across if properly taught.  I think what is 
available in the two week format is an immersion into the material that 
reaches into the right brain and mostly creates something akin to a 
paradigm shift.  I have watched this happen time after time in courses 
around the world in very different cultures and context.  I have had 
students in the two week course who have experienced both the weekend 
format and correspondence and they all say the two week immersion is a 
totally different experience.

If we are about creating a permaculture nation or tribe then I think it is 
critical that we go through the two week initiation process.  If we are 
just trying to convey very critical knowledge and techniques at this 
critical time then it doesn't seem to matter which format is used or how 
much is left out of the original curriculum.  From my own experience I 
wouldn't have continued for the past twenty years in permaculture as a 
teacher of another system of design.  The course gave me a whole new 
direction in terms of a philosophical way of looking at the world which had 
the possibility of profoundly changing the political landscape without 
having to participate in politics as well as promoting a system of being on 
the planet which was sane and thoughtful.

When I received my certification I felt as if I was a member of this 
special tribe even though I took the course in Katmandu.  This is why I 
think that the curriculum and the time frame and the talent show and the 
demonstration time is all critical in changing people in the fundamental 
ways necessary to heal our planet and ourselves.  The pedagogy, as I have 
often said on this list, was as great a gift from Bill as all of his data 
and methodology.

Scott

At 01:33 PM 6/30/00 -0700, you wrote:
> >The PDC course is a distance learning course via Australia.  I never seemed
> >to be able to get enough time away to take a course in person, so I am going
> >with this.
>Has anyone out there done both a residential, traditional PDC and an
>E-course? And if so what  do they have to say in comparison?
>I know there are very respected teachers out there doing both...
>Being a trained (!!!) educator ("I have a Masters Degree" (if you've heard
>Dr. Science)) and teaching residential courses- I like the format & agree
>with David Holmgren (like me a grad of an experimental college) that the
>residential aspect is a major advantage. "Getting away" is part of the
>process producing the desired effect.
>I heard a management consultant on NPR who was saying he typically has
>corporate clients that were communicating and successful when the group was
>under one roof. As soon as communication went online between unmeeting
>individuals, dysfunction commenced and grew.
>(I think the typical list flame war is an aspect of this phenomena too)
>How many times have I had PDC evaluations mention how much was learned out of
>class time and/or from other participants!
>Not to mention weekend courses, which I have taught, and also have grave
>reservations about as well.
>I think that correspondence courses do have useful educational functions-
>similar to weekend courses, evening classes and such. I'd also say most of
>what a residential PDC has to offer can also be found in a week-long  or
>longer hands-on residential course or the sort of course that Marsha Hanzi
>talks about presenting, somewhat shorter than the traditional course, with
>much more hands-on. I have not had any experience with the shorter
>residential "fundamentals" courses some give, but I'd guess they are likewise
>effective in fostering these effects which I'd say include "community"
>feeling, learning to appreciate other learning styles, (in yourself and
>others)
>I am well aware of opinions about access, affordability & so on. The flip
>side of that coin is often commitment. We're talking about whole systems- for
>me it works best in a holistic learning environment.
>What do people out there think?
>-Rick
>
>
>Rick Valley Northern Groves
>PO Box 1236, Philomath, OR 97370
>Mobile-(541)602-1315, hm.& msg. (541)929-7152  Bamboo catalog $3 or at
><http://www.teleport.com/~dbrooks/bamboo.html>
>"Useful Bamboos and other plants‹ Permaculture education‹ Ecological design &
>consultation centering on water,landform and horticultural systems"
>
>
>
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