Marni Binder is an Associate Professor in The School of Early Childhood Studies at Ryerson University. Prior to Ryerson, she worked in the pre-service and graduate programs at The Faculty of Education, York University. Marni also worked extensively with primary-aged children, as well as with junior-aged children as an educator in the inner city schools of Toronto for 23 years. Research interests include arts-based education research, creativity, multimodal literacies, visual narratives, spirituality and the arts, mindfulness through holistic education.
Anne Mulvaney
Ed.D.(O.I.S.E. 1994)
A retired
school teacher, Anne has been a spiritual director and a presenter at Psychosynthesis
Conferences for years (August 2015, Montreal). For the past three years
she has been studying with Craig Hamilton, a teacher of meditation for
the sake of human evolution for the good of all of us on Mother Earth.
She is a member of an on-line community called “Living Evolution” and is
on staff of their newsletter – “Evolving Voice”. Members are graduates
of Hamilton’s course entitled “Evolutionary Life Transformation Program”.
The essential component here is daily meditation (solitary and group through
Maestro conferencing). Craig’s work is based on the writings of Teilhard
de Chardin (The Phenomen of Man) among others. Meditation and Teilhard
drew Anne into this evolving way of daily living with “the wholehearted
intention to transform” (Principle #1 of Evolutionary Culture)
“When I am
with children, I am a nobody, and the greatest privilege I have when I
approach them is to forget that I even exist, for this has enabled me to
see things that one would miss if one were a somebody – little things,
simple but very precious truths.” – Maria Montessori (Education and Peace,
Clio, 2002, 85)
How to be
‘nobody’ – for in that act are the seeds of transformation … This workshop
explores portals to ‘the other’ in an eclectic blend of tai chi, story-telling,
game, and nature-immersion techniques that are the result of over thirty
years working and playing with adults, children, and other-than-human animals.
Supported by insights from some great minds, including Thomas Berry, Jane
Goodall, Rupert Sheldrake, David Abram, and George Monbiot, we will experience
creativity as a nomadic phenomenon and ‘rewilding’ as a physical, conceptual,
and ecological necessity that can infuse the future with radical transformations
of hope. (Please bring a reflective journal for your a-muse-ment).
Wendy Agnew
(Ph.D. Holistic Education)
Wendy has
conducted ecological workshops and long-term educational initiatives in
Africa, Asia, and North America since 1979. Her focus is active engagement
with environment as progenitor, mentor, and muse. She is a founding member
of two nature-framed theatre companies, the internationally recognized
Sustainability Frontiers, and a citizens group dedicated to environmental
reform and her students’ vibrant eco-aware murals may be seen on three
continents. Wendy’s publications form an eclectic blend of poetry, prose,
and academic writings highlighting autopoietic and sustainable living.
She believes the arts to be a vital link between nature, culture, and future.
Seeta Nyary, previously a teacher of visual and graphic arts including the design/display of information continues her work as a creator. Embracing inner wisdom, she continues to learn and research life experiences by becoming more mindful of her own holistic makeup as a consultant and coach. Currently at OISE, University of Toronto, she is a senior consultant for the integration of academic technology for teaching, learning and research initiatives.
Sharon Dutton
- “Education in rhythm and by rhythm: Exploring the holistic aspects
of Dalcroze Eurhythmics"
To open the
session, Sharon will summarize her research project, explain Dalcroze pedagogy,
and will share some of the stories that make up her dissertation. She will
then invite the workshop attendees to engage in some easy Dalcroze activities,
(involving movement). The session will close with a ‘round-table’ discussion,
linking experience to holistic education.
Sharon E
Dutton B. Mus, B. Ed, M. Mus Ed
Sharonhas
extensive experience as a music educator, having taught music for the Halton
Board of Education for 20 years. She is currently a part time graduate
student at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto; her
doctoral dissertation uses narrative inquiry to explore the holistic aspects
of Dalcroze Eurhythmics, a method of teaching music through movement. She
is a certified Dalcroze instructor, and has studied Dalcroze pedagogy at
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, at the Juilliard School in Manhattan,
and at the Institute for Jaques-Dalcroze Education in Maryland.
Merlin Charles and her son Jamaal- Holism in the Home
In this interactive workshop, Merlin and Jamaal (mother and son) will examine the notion of “Holism in the Home” within the framework of the three premises of holistic education: Connectedness, Inclusiveness and Balance. We have all heard the expression: “Charity begins at home”. Participants will explore various pertinent questions surrounding the notion of what it means to be "family" and how we can stay connected, create balance and foster a sense of belonging and inclusiveness in the home (as family). We will also share stories and explore the joys as well as the hits-and-misses of building and maintaining positive relationships in the family; what does it really mean to be “connected” especially in the digital age that we live in. In particular, we will share and explore together what can be referred to as the three F’s – Fellowship, Food and Fun – the importance of Fellowship, the role that Food plays in helping to foster holistic practices in the home in Fun and stress-free ways.
Merlin Charles teaches in the Initial Teacher Education Program at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Based on her research, and on-going studies in holistic education, Merlin is particularly interested in the mindful application of holistic teaching and learning in a variety of contexts – and the home is no exception. Her commitment to holistic teaching and learning has been instrumental in inspiring her son Jamaal to embrace the premises of holistic education in everyday life.
Jamaal André
A certified
personal trainer, Jamaal has been pursuing studies in Physiology and Nutrition.
He is very interested in holistic education, and how it can be practiced
in all contexts - in the classroom, in the gym, in the home – in other
words, in everyday life and contexts. While being mindful of the notion
that “charity begins at home” Jamaal’s goal is to help others embrace life
and to feel good about themselves both mentally and physically.