Maria Lisa Polegatto June 2024
What is a living campus and living school? It is a place where “deep learning” happens when the entire school/campus/organization works together for the “well-being for all”, for “meaningful contact”, fundamental global growth, cultivating compassion of the “transformative mode of thinking” for “relationships and conversations (O’Brien, 2016) and flourishing on the “co-learning journey (O’Brien and Howard, 2020). This concept not only includes humans but also nature and species and their interconnectedness (O’Brien, 2016) instead of the narrow silo approach of traditional education (TEDxIowaCity, 2018).
I was deeply moved and inspired to read about Dawson College having
Great tragedy has led to:
We could gain so much from a peaceful world to grow seeds of positive change.
The “1249 Club” not only interconnects learning about the ability of bees to produce honey, but also teaches about the interconnectedness of them in their environment and in doing this challenge, the interconnectedness of humans with nature over bees journey of 1249 kilometers and the resulting wellbeing from exercise and happiness in the prize of one teaspoon of honey upon completion (O’Brien, 2016).
- Peace Garden as a memorial of student, Anastasia Rebecca De Sousa
- composting of the flowers for the garden
- collaboration of global inclusion
- beehives on the roof that connect with classroom learning, and
- sustainable projects to “change the world” (O’Brien, 2016).
Great tragedy has led to:
- a wonderful living memorial
- healing of communities
- learning environment
- collaboration for future innovative projects creatively developed
- sustainable achievements
- connection of nature and species (O’Brien, 2016)
- environment “grounded in purposeful learning by doing (O’Brien and Howard, 2020)
- promote global peace (O’Brien, 2016).
We could gain so much from a peaceful world to grow seeds of positive change.
The “1249 Club” not only interconnects learning about the ability of bees to produce honey, but also teaches about the interconnectedness of them in their environment and in doing this challenge, the interconnectedness of humans with nature over bees journey of 1249 kilometers and the resulting wellbeing from exercise and happiness in the prize of one teaspoon of honey upon completion (O’Brien, 2016).
Teaching a student about a teaspoon of honey has no comparison to the personal success of travelling 1249 kilometers to enjoy that same teaspoon of honey.
Likewise, the spider plant project at Cape Breton University (CBU) teaches about nature and its benefits, using senses and compassion, and personal attachment to nature (O’Brien, 2016). I did make a point of visiting the living wall at CBU a few years back and on the way met up with Stephen Augustine and talked about nature and the need to incorporate it into our wellbeing both outside and inside.
Sustainable Happiness is an integral part of Living Campus. Chris Adam
Sometimes people think radical changes are anything outside the norm of conventional classroom teaching. Not all our global problems are easily solved with the solutions of the past. We have created new problems for the world such as climate change and extinction of species at alarming rates. Growing food on a roof top is a newer concept but radical in terms of past traditional growing methods as is growing vertically as well have beehives in roof gardens.
If you consider the existing practice of growing food with pesticides and expecting well being for all, is shocking to me that a holistic, sustainable approach could now be viewed as radical.
If you consider the existing practice of growing food with pesticides and expecting well being for all, is shocking to me that a holistic, sustainable approach could now be viewed as radical.
How could we have ever believed that it was a good idea
to grow our food with poisons?” Dr. Jane Goodall.
to grow our food with poisons?” Dr. Jane Goodall.
Fundamental change needs to come from global citizens who want wellbeing as a cornerstone of global community. We need input from citizens, educational scholars, “law”, “policy”, and “science” in our “chaotic environment” to:
Changing the world takes place over long periods with small actions that add up. Keeping in mind the challenge ahead of us is changing habits that have been in place since the exploration of continents, sailing from port to port, desire for convenience among the need for economic security, the industrial age, invention of non-degradable products, global monopolies and more.
We have created a world where wealth outweighs the survival of all species on the planet and the destruction of the planet itself both externally and internally. This is no reason to give up doing sustainable work but rather to move forward with passion for the benefit of all.
We need to support a
We need to make what was old new again by revisiting the ways of being that allowed nature to flourish before humans forgot they are stewards of the planet and not in charge of its destruction. We need to work with elders globally to learn and cultivate collaboration for a healthy planet, healthy society, and healthy future generations. We need leaders who possess characteristics and strong sense of self and ability to do what is right and just in the world instead of what is merely profitable (O’Brien and Howard, 2020).
While technology allows us to work and go to school online, we need to wear our jammies outside while doing so in nature to increase our wellbeing. We need to “reimagine education” (O’Brien and Howard, 2020) so we can “thrive” and flourish in the living world (TEDxIowaCity, 2018) (O’Brien, 2016), be “resilient”, “active” and have “strong caring relationships” (O’Brien, 2016). I enjoy working on my art, reading, gardening, doing projects and spending time with my dogs in my back yard under the trees to smell the flowers and yes, I go outside to enjoy nature in my jammies :)
We need the “pockets of excellence” (O’Brien and Howard, 2020) of living schools, living campuses, living organizations to live our lives in peace with the world.
- innovate and solve global issues
- have hands on experience
- wide view of issues and landscapes
- networking, and
- no boundaries to share, collaborate and flourish (TEDxIowaCity, 2018).
Changing the world takes place over long periods with small actions that add up. Keeping in mind the challenge ahead of us is changing habits that have been in place since the exploration of continents, sailing from port to port, desire for convenience among the need for economic security, the industrial age, invention of non-degradable products, global monopolies and more.
We have created a world where wealth outweighs the survival of all species on the planet and the destruction of the planet itself both externally and internally. This is no reason to give up doing sustainable work but rather to move forward with passion for the benefit of all.
We need to support a
- "culture of hope” - I grow vegetables in my garden and watch them sprout and grow as hope for the future to share with my elderly neighbor who can not garden anymore.
- form “new relationships” - I recently formed new relationships in doing a volunteer event for the Canadian Sea Turtle Network In Iona for World Oceans Day and connected with the event organizers and participants.
- collaborate with others - I reached out to organizations while doing my acorn project and as a result have offered to collaborate on an upcoming tree event with ACAP.
- use “interdisciplinary learning” for “systems thinking” - in doing the acorn project, i reached out to a Oak Summit Nursery and learned about growing acorns for trees. I now have new knowledge to pass along and collaborate with others and I'm growing trees in my backyard now.
- model “sustainable, healthy living” - growing food in my garden brings me happiness and brings smiles to people's faces when I share my garden seeds and food with them.
- bring the living world into “education and learning” - providing acorns to Two Rivers Wildlife Park with the support of how to grow them and how to harvest other forms of acorns provided educational support to learn to pass the knowledge on to the kids programs. They will plant the milkweed seeds I provided them this summer for a new species at their site.
- “nature connectedness” fostering “positive emotions” - this is my favorite form of relaxation to see how nature and species interconnect with their environments and other ecosystems which fosters positive emotions in me and a desire to share the knowledge with others. I shared about the interconnectedness of acorns, ecosystems and humanity in my acorn research and also about species in my whale research project.
- become “choice-makers and change-makers” - I love to choose nature to make a positive change in the world. As a hockey Mom and hockey team manager when my son was younger and now a member of Cape Breton Search and Rescue (CBSAR) and doing research projects, I am familiar with event planning, fundraising, media events, marketing, designing posters, signs, name tags and more. One of the reasons I joined CBSAR was hiking through the woods in day and at night with the team.
- encourage new projects through “living campus models” (O’Brien, 2016) - I am always offering ideas at work to foster an avenue to bring nature inside in a solarium or plant a roof garden for bees benefit, do an acorn project to new homeowners to name a few. We have a lot of gulls in the spring so I encourage and educate people in the building to keep an awareness of the gulls and how to watch out for any signs of distress. This year we called Hope for Wildlife to connect for knowledge of the fledglings when one appeared injured. Turned out the gull was a baby Black Winged Gull that wasn't able to fly yet.
We need to make what was old new again by revisiting the ways of being that allowed nature to flourish before humans forgot they are stewards of the planet and not in charge of its destruction. We need to work with elders globally to learn and cultivate collaboration for a healthy planet, healthy society, and healthy future generations. We need leaders who possess characteristics and strong sense of self and ability to do what is right and just in the world instead of what is merely profitable (O’Brien and Howard, 2020).
While technology allows us to work and go to school online, we need to wear our jammies outside while doing so in nature to increase our wellbeing. We need to “reimagine education” (O’Brien and Howard, 2020) so we can “thrive” and flourish in the living world (TEDxIowaCity, 2018) (O’Brien, 2016), be “resilient”, “active” and have “strong caring relationships” (O’Brien, 2016). I enjoy working on my art, reading, gardening, doing projects and spending time with my dogs in my back yard under the trees to smell the flowers and yes, I go outside to enjoy nature in my jammies :)
We need the “pockets of excellence” (O’Brien and Howard, 2020) of living schools, living campuses, living organizations to live our lives in peace with the world.
Additional Resources
Bennett, M. (2024). Making Space for Radical Pedagogy. Radical Teacher,
128. https://radicalteacher.library.pitt.edu/ojs/radicalteacher/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/22
Dawson College. (n.d.). Peace centre. Peace Centre | Dawson College. https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/peace-centre/
Jickling, R. & Sterling, S. (2017). Post-Sustainability and Environmental Education: Framing
Issues. Palgrave MacMillan. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315352062_Post-Sustainability_and_Environmental_Education_Framing_Issues
128. https://radicalteacher.library.pitt.edu/ojs/radicalteacher/libraryFiles/downloadPublic/22
Dawson College. (n.d.). Peace centre. Peace Centre | Dawson College. https://www.dawsoncollege.qc.ca/peace-centre/
Jickling, R. & Sterling, S. (2017). Post-Sustainability and Environmental Education: Framing
Issues. Palgrave MacMillan. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315352062_Post-Sustainability_and_Environmental_Education_Framing_Issues
References
O’Brien, C. (2016). Education for sustainable happiness and well-being. New York: Routledge. Chapter 12: Living Campus and Living Schools
O’Brien, C., & Howard, P. (Eds). (2020). Living Schools: Transforming education. Education for Sustainable Well-Being Press, University of Manitoba. DOI: 10.34991/G4YZ-5W36
Introduction: Living Schools and Well-Being for All
Chapter 2: Living Schools and 21st Century Education
TEDxIowaCity. (2018, September 20). Benefits of a Radical Learning Community | Sarah Gardial [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/VkBg-hZDOG4?si=lpcfJfQAvvTnxhxV
O’Brien, C., & Howard, P. (Eds). (2020). Living Schools: Transforming education. Education for Sustainable Well-Being Press, University of Manitoba. DOI: 10.34991/G4YZ-5W36
Introduction: Living Schools and Well-Being for All
Chapter 2: Living Schools and 21st Century Education
TEDxIowaCity. (2018, September 20). Benefits of a Radical Learning Community | Sarah Gardial [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/VkBg-hZDOG4?si=lpcfJfQAvvTnxhxV
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