The three-day SEE Learning (Social, Emotional, and Ethical Learning) Orientation Workshop for educators in Chile ended successfully on the evening of May 10 at the Francisco Varela School in Santiago, Chile.
This orientation workshop coordinated by the Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Latin America was the first SEE Learning orientation workshop held in the Latin American Region.
The three-day workshop was attended by around 70 educators from the Santiago Metropolitan Region, northern Chilean region of Arica, and southern region of Puerto Montt as well as educators from Tulua City in Colombia.
The workshop was facilitated by Tsondu Samphel and Christa Tinari from the Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion Based Ethics of the Emory University in Atlanta, USA.
During the three days, the workshop participants were given thorough introduction to understand the framework of the SEE Learning which is fundamentally based around three dimensions, which broadly encompass the types of knowledge and competencies it seeks to foster in students: 1) Awareness, 2) Compassion, 3) Ethical Engagement.
Furthermore, while dealing with these three dimensions, the participants were also informed how these can be approached in three domains: 1) Personal, 2) Social, and 3) Systems.
The workshop participants were also drawn their attention to the SEE Learning pedagogical model that seeks to lead students from received knowledge to critical insight, and then to embodied understanding.
While implementing this pedagogical model, the participants were informed about the importance of employing four key learning threads: 1) engaged learning pedagogies, 2) scientific perspectives, 3) critical thinking, and 4) reflective practices.
The SEE Learning facilitators also introduced the workshop participants about the details of bringing SEE Learning in classroom situation starting with creating a compassionate classroom and then sharing knowledge about building resilience, strengthening attention & self-awareness, navigating emotions, appreciating & learning from one another, compassion for self and others, and understanding systems and our common humanity.
At the end, the facilitators also shared the participants how to introduce students in each class to undertake the engagement project collaboratively.
The proceedings of the orientation workshop were simultaneously translated into Spanish by Fernando William, a senior teacher and Board member of the Francisco Varela School.
Commenting on the workshop, the staff members of the Francisco Varela School write:
“Tsondu gave incredible precious explanations about compassion, kindness and patience which were so clear and direct. His guided reflective practices were so simple and yet so deep, it was really a great experience to have him as a facilitator.
“And Christa was incredibly inspiring, everyone was really enchanted by her presence, explanations and skillful ways to guide and teach.
It was really encouraging to see so many educators and educational institutions are taking so much interest in SEE Learning and understand the urgency of educating heart and mind together, as advocated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
-Filed by Office of Tibet, Latin America