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Think with your Heart
Science Education and Spiritual Transformation

Science Education and Spiritual Transformation Workshop (IIRP)

produced for THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE for RESTORATIVE PRACTICES,

Oct. 19-22, 2025, CHATTANOOGA, TN

based on the book by the same name

Workshop Description

​

Workshop Presentation


Intended audience: Teachers, Post-Secondary Students, Administrators.
Instructor: John Bickart, Ph.D.
Prerequisites: none
Website: https://www.johnbickart.org/
Recommended Reading: The Next Version of You, Bickart's Just-in-Time Fables, 20 Opportunities to Transform Yourself While Teaching, Science Education and Spiritual Transformation


Workshop Abstract:

Science education is like making friends because you form relationships with whatever you study. And just like a relationship with a good friend, it can be spiritually transformative. What is a spiritual relationship? It is one that is more about giving than receiving - where you truly care about someone or something - one that transforms into genuine friendship with the world around you, with nature.


Workshop Objectives:

  • Participants without any science background will be able to appreciate an overview of 20 Actual Science Lessons from a little over 50 years of teaching. Each lesson relates the world of nature to the spiritual core of the student. This comes from my book, Science Education and Spiritual Transformation.

  • Participants will be able to conduct 3 of the 20 lessons on their own after participating in a live demonstration of:

    1. How to make an O/A [Observation & Analysis]

    2. Observation Practice ["Look Twice"]

    3. The Test of a Real Scientist [Good Science = Good Observation!]

Heart Thought
Heart Thought

Recent Workshops:
•    The Believing Brain (Columbia U.) - Changing ourselves starts with changing our beliefs.
Prepared for The Collaborative for Spirituality in Education, Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (Oct. 2022)
•    The Believing Brain (IIRP) - Changing ourselves starts with changing our beliefs.
video prepared for The International Institute for Restorative Practices, IIRP World Conference 2023 (Jan. 2023)
•    Reawakening Your Love of Teaching
prepared for "AWAKENED SCHOOLS: The Spiritual Core in Whole Child Education", live conference, Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (Oct. 2022).
•    The Educational Workshop on 20 Opportunities to Transform Yourself While Teaching
•    "Reclaiming Your Spirituality" was prepared for "Cultivating the Spiritual Core: An Interactive Learning Summit", Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (Nov. 2021).
•    "Recovering Your Childhood in Adulthood" was prepared for "Awakened Campus Summit", Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (April 2022).
•    "The Biology of Belief" was prepared for "AWAKENED SCHOOLS: The Spiritual Core in Whole Child Education", live conference, Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (Oct. 2022).
•    Intuitive Education Workshop
•    The Collaborative for Spirituality in Education, Teachers College of Columbia U. in NYC (Nov. 2019)
•    INSS (International Network for the Study of Spirituality), St. Johns U. in the UK (June 2021)
•    Holistic Teaching and Learning Center, Southern Oregon U. in Ashland, OR (Oct. 2021)
•    Cultivating the Spiritual Core: An Interactive Learning Summit, Teachers College of Columbia U. in  NYC (Nov. 2021)


Literature Review:
•    Science of Emotions (Keltner, 2009, 2023)
•    Childhood & Spirituality (Hart, 2001, 2010, 2014a, 2014b; L. Miller, 2015; L. W. E. S. Miller, 2021)
•    Left Brain Dominance (McGilchrist, 2009)
•    Mindfulness and Nondual Awareness (Chopra, 2021; Chopra, Ford, & Williamson, 2010; Lantieri, 2008; Palmer, 1993, 1998, 2004; Palmer, Zajonc, & Scribner, 2010)
•    Emotional and Social Intelligence, Presence (Goleman & Boutsikaris, 2006; Goleman & Senge, 2007; Goleman & Whitener, 2005; Senge, 2000, 2008)
•    Awareness and Mindsight (Siegel, 2010, 2018)
•    Wisdom Teaching and Practical Exercises (Laozi, 2005/circa 500 BC)
•    Belief (Dispenza, 2017; Dispenza & Boyce, 2016; Dispenza, Knight, & Encephalon, 2005; B. H. Lipton, 2005, 2006, 2014; B. H. Lipton, Bhaerman, S., 2009)
•    Early Opposition to the Mechanical View of Humans (Dewey, 1910, 1916/2005)
•    Historically Assumed Separateness (Harari, 2017) (Kuhn, 2004)
•    Reduced Importance of Childhood (Piaget, 1929/2007, 1950, 1959, 1965, 1973, 1976; Piaget & Inhelder, 1969; Piaget & Valsiner, 1927/2001)
•    Excessive Testing (Darling-Hammond, 2010; González & Darling-Hammond, 1997; Gurwitz, Darling-Hammond, Pease, Education., & Corporation., 1981; Haggstrom, Darling-Hammond, Grissmer, & Center for the Study of the Teaching Profession (Rand Corporation), 1988; Koppich, Merseth, Darling-Hammond, American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education., & National Commission on Teaching & America's Future (U.S.), 2000; Millman & Darling-Hammond, 1990; Wise, Darling-Hammond, Berry, Profession., & Education, 1987; Wise, Darling-Hammond, & Klein, 1986; Zeichner et al., 2000)
•    Education: Students-only, Community-centered, Right Answers, Restricted Resources, Not tests, Not algebra, Not control, Not norms, Brick & Mortar Schools, Integrated Disciplines, Inspirational Content (Dintersmith, 2018; Hart, 2001)
•    1800s Factory Model (Skinner, 1953; Thorndike, 1913/2010)


References


Bickart, J. (2018). The next version of you: 12 stories that highlight the use of intuition to update your life.
Bickart, J. (2020a). Bickart’s Just-in-Time Fables (Vol. 1). Asheville, NC: Red Shirt Interactive Group.
Bickart, J. (2020b). Bickart’s Just-in-Time Fables (Vol. 2). Asheville, NC: Red Shirt Interactive Group.
Bickart, J. (2020c). Bickart’s Just-in-Time Fables (Vol. 3). Asheville, NC: Red Shirt Interactive Group.
Bickart, J. (2022). 20 Opportunities to Transform Yourself While Teaching. Asheville, NC: Red Shirt Interactive Group.
Chopra, D. (2021). METAHUMAN : unleashing your infinite potential. [S.l.]: HARMONY CROWN.
Chopra, D., Ford, D., & Williamson, M. (2010). The shadow effect: Illuminating the hidden power of your true self. New York: HarperOne.
Darling-Hammond, L. (2010). The flat world and education: how America's commitment to equity will determine our future. New York: Teachers College Press.
Dewey, J. (1910). How we think. Boston: D.C. Heath & Co.
Dewey, J. (1916/2005). Democracy and education: An introduction to the philosophy of education. New York: Cosimo Classics.
Dintersmith, T. (2018). What school could be : insights and inspiration from teachers across America.
Dispenza, J. (2017). Becoming supernatural: how common people are doing the uncommon. Carlsbad: Hay House.
Dispenza, J., & Boyce, A. (2016). You Are the Placebo. [United States]: Author's Republic : Made available through hoopla.
Dispenza, J., Knight, J. Z., & Encephalon, L. L. C. (2005). Mastering the art of observation. Rainier, WA: Encephalon.
Goleman, D., & Boutsikaris, D. (2006). Social intelligence the new science of human relationships. New York: Audio Renaissance.
Goleman, D., & Senge, P. M. (2007). Working with presence. New York: Audio Renaissance.
Goleman, D., & Whitener, B. (2005). Emotional intelligence. Prince Frederick, MD: Landmark Audiobooks.
González, J. M., & Darling-Hammond, L. (1997). New concepts for new challenges: Professional development for teachers of immigrant youth. [Washington, D.C.], McHenry, IL: Center for Applied Linguistics ; Delta Systems Co.
Gurwitz, A. S., Darling-Hammond, L., Pease, S. R., Education., U. S. D. o., & Corporation., R. (1981). Maintenance of effort provisions: An instrument of federalism in education. Santa Monica, CA: Rand Corp.
Haggstrom, G. W., Darling-Hammond, L., Grissmer, D. W., & Center for the Study of the Teaching Profession (Rand Corporation). (1988). Assessing teacher supply and demand. Santa Monica, CA: Rand, Center for the Study of the Teaching Profession.
Harari, Y. N. P. D. O. I. (2017). Sapiens.
Hart, T. (2001). From information to transformation: Education for the evolution of consciousness. New York: P. Lang.
Hart, T. (2010). The secret spiritual world of children the breakthrough discovery that profoundly alters our conventional view of children's mystical experiences. [S.l.]: New World Library.
Hart, T. (2014a). The four virtues : presence, heart, wisdom, creation. New York: Atria Books/Beyond Words.
Hart, T. (2014b). The integrative mind : transformative education for a world on fire.
Keltner, D. (2009). Born to be good : the science of a meaningful life (1st ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Co. New York.
Keltner, D. (2023). Awe : the new science of everyday wonder and how it can transform your life. New York: Penguin Press New York.
Koppich, J., Merseth, K. K., Darling-Hammond, L., American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education., & National Commission on Teaching & America's Future (U.S.). (2000). Studies of excellence in teacher education: Preparation in a five-year program. Washington, DC: AACTE Publications.
Kuhn, T. S. (2004). The structure of scientific revolutions. Chicago [u.a.]: Univ. of Chicago Press.
Lantieri, L. (2008). Building inner resilience. Reclaiming Children and Youth, 17(2), 43-46.
Laozi, D. R. A. C. J. (2005/circa 500 BC). Tao te ching : a new translation & commentary. New York: Barnes & Noble.
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Lipton, B. H. (2014). The honeymoon effect: the science of creating heaven on earth. Boulder, CO: Sounds True.
Lipton, B. H., Bhaerman, S. (2009). Spontaneous evolution: Our positive future (and a way to get there from here). Carlsbad, Calif.: Hay House.
McGilchrist, I. (2009). The master and his emissary: the divided brain and the making of the Western world. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Miller, L. (2015). The spiritual child: The new science on parenting for health and lifelong thriving.
Miller, L. W. E. S. (2021). The awakened brain : the new science of spirituality and our quest for an inspired life.
Millman, J., & Darling-Hammond, L. (1990). The New handbook of teacher evaluation: assessing elementary and secondary school teachers. Newbury Park, Calif.: Sage Publications.
Palmer, P. J. (1993). To know as we are known: Education as a spiritual journey. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco.
Palmer, P. J. (1998). The courage to teach: Exploring the inner landscape of a teacher's life. San Francisco, Calif.: Jossey-Bass.
Palmer, P. J. (2004). A hidden wholeness: The journey toward an undivided life: welcoming the soul and weaving community in a wounded world. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Palmer, P. J., Zajonc, A., & Scribner, M. (2010). The heart of higher education: a call to renewal. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Piaget, J. (1929/2007). The child's conception of the world. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield.
Piaget, J. (1950). The psychology of intelligence. London: Routledge & Paul.
Piaget, J. (1959). The language and thought of the child. New York: Humanities Press.
Piaget, J. (1965). The moral judgment of the child. New York: Free Press.
Piaget, J. (1973). The child and reality; problems of genetic psychology. New York: Grossman Publishers.
Piaget, J. (1976). The grasp of consciousness: action and concept in the young child. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Piaget, J., & Inhelder, B. (1969). The psychology of the child. New York: Basic Books.
Piaget, J., & Valsiner, J. (1927/2001). The child's conception of physical causality. New Brunswick (N. J.); London: Transaction Publishers.
Senge, P. M. (2000). Schools that learn: A fifth discipline fieldbook for educators, parents, and everyone who cares about education. New York: Doubleday.
Senge, P. M. (2008). The necessary revolution : how individuals and organizations are working together to create a sustainable world. New York: Doubleday.
Siegel, D. J. (2010). Mindsight: the new science of personal transformation. New York: Bantam Books.
Siegel, D. J. (2018). Aware : the science and practice of presence, a complete guide to the groundbreaking Wheel of Awareness meditation practice.
Skinner, B. F. (1953). Science and human behavior. New York: Macmillan.
Thorndike, E. L. (1913/2010). Educational psychology. [Charleston, SC]: Nabu Press, [BiblioBazaar].
Wise, A. E., Darling-Hammond, L., Berry, B., Profession., R. C. C. f. t. S. o. t. T., & Education, N. I. o. (1987). Effective teacher selection: From recruitment to retention. Santa Monica, CA: Rand, Center for the Study of the Teaching Profession.
Wise, A. E., Darling-Hammond, L., & Klein, S. P. (1986). Evaluating the teaching skills of beginning teachers a report to the Senate Education Committee and House Education Committee. Santa Monica, Calif.: Rand,.
Zeichner, K. M., Miller, L., Silvernail, D. L., Darling-Hammond, L., American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education., & National Commission on Teaching & America's Future (U.S.). (2000). Studies of excellence in teacher education: Preparation in the undergraduate years. Washington, DC: AACTE Publications.

from the back cover

Science Education and Spiritual Transformation
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