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The Sacred in Science

The Sacred In Science
Intended audience: Teachers, Pre-service Teachers, Curriculum and Instruction, Education
Instructor: Dr. John Bickart
Prerequisites: none


Description of the Workshop

This course can be taken as a whole or as separate sessions. Each of the six sessions contain practical science lessons. They deal in common experiences, yet each seeks to express something motivating. How do you know when you are teaching in a sacred, spiritual way? It's really quite simple. First, know that you are already a good teacher. Second, look for chances to learn from your students, so that they can see your gratitude for them. If once in a while you get inspired and have fun with your students, then you are already celebrating the sacred in science.


The sacred or spiritual in my life … what does that mean? I think it means looking at nature and being grateful for whatever is fun or inspiring or beautiful for me. You know – whatever engenders wonder and awe, as I experienced when I was a child. I think being sacred is simply being present, observing, and enjoying. I’ve taught children in private and public schools, and adults in schools, corporations, and state prisons. What they have taught me about spirituality can be summed up in three sentences.
One way to see the genius in your student, is for you, yourself to continually be grateful as you learn new things from everything around you, including your student; but sometimes this means that you have to stop your thinking and just observe.


“If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.” (Goethe, 2016/1882)
 
“The simple reason why the majority of scientists are not creative is not because they don't know how to think; but because they don't know how to stop thinking.” (Tolle, 2011)


Led by John Bickart. John is a veteran teacher of both children and adults. He is also an educational consultant. His goal as a teacher is to work in the background while letting good ideas speak for themselves. He believes that teachers and students know what they want and that we empower ourselves when we listen to our hearts. He values helping his students transform personally over simply passing along information. His professional offerings include: higher ed. pre-service teacher preparation, in-service teacher workshops, high/middle school science and math for youth at risk, science topics for incarcerated individuals, and educational software development.

Workshops
Overview
The overview can be given as a talk by itself.
Session 1 - Light
The Rainbow, Earth and Fire, Colors in the Sun and Sky, Mixing Colors
Session 2 - Heat
Fire and Metal, Our Breath and Bubbles, Hot Water and Ice, Growing and Eating and Burning and Composting
Session 3 - Motion
Falling and Swinging, Gravity and The Pendulum, Lifting and Jumping and Flying
Session 4 - Sound
Music of the Birds and Wind, Listening to the Woods, Sympathetic Vibration
Session 5 - Electricity & Magnetism
The Earth's EM Field, Lightning, BioMagnetism, Natural Friction and Sparks, Current, Technology
Session 6 - The Physical and Spiritual Nature of Science
Matter, Relativity, and Quantum Mechanics
How to Make an Observation / Analysis ('O/A')

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