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  • From: Scott Pittman <pci@permaculture-inst.org>
  • To: "permaculture" <permaculture@franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: E-correspondence PDC's
  • Date: Sat, 08 Jul 2000 17:21:15 -0600


Regarding correspondence, weekend, and two week format I think that all three get the information across if properly taught. I think what is available in the two week format is an immersion into the material that reaches into the right brain and mostly creates something akin to a paradigm shift. I have watched this happen time after time in courses around the world in very different cultures and context. I have had students in the two week course who have experienced both the weekend format and correspondence and they all say the two week immersion is a totally different experience.

If we are about creating a permaculture nation or tribe then I think it is critical that we go through the two week initiation process. If we are just trying to convey very critical knowledge and techniques at this critical time then it doesn't seem to matter which format is used or how much is left out of the original curriculum. From my own experience I wouldn't have continued for the past twenty years in permaculture as a teacher of another system of design. The course gave me a whole new direction in terms of a philosophical way of looking at the world which had the possibility of profoundly changing the political landscape without having to participate in politics as well as promoting a system of being on the planet which was sane and thoughtful.

When I received my certification I felt as if I was a member of this special tribe even though I took the course in Katmandu. This is why I think that the curriculum and the time frame and the talent show and the demonstration time is all critical in changing people in the fundamental ways necessary to heal our planet and ourselves. The pedagogy, as I have often said on this list, was as great a gift from Bill as all of his data and methodology.

Scott

At 01:33 PM 6/30/00 -0700, you wrote:
>The PDC course is a distance learning course via Australia. I never seemed
>to be able to get enough time away to take a course in person, so I am going
>with this.
Has anyone out there done both a residential, traditional PDC and an
E-course? And if so what do they have to say in comparison?
I know there are very respected teachers out there doing both...
Being a trained (!!!) educator ("I have a Masters Degree" (if you've heard
Dr. Science)) and teaching residential courses- I like the format & agree
with David Holmgren (like me a grad of an experimental college) that the
residential aspect is a major advantage. "Getting away" is part of the
process producing the desired effect.
I heard a management consultant on NPR who was saying he typically has
corporate clients that were communicating and successful when the group was
under one roof. As soon as communication went online between unmeeting
individuals, dysfunction commenced and grew.
(I think the typical list flame war is an aspect of this phenomena too)
How many times have I had PDC evaluations mention how much was learned out of
class time and/or from other participants!
Not to mention weekend courses, which I have taught, and also have grave
reservations about as well.
I think that correspondence courses do have useful educational functions-
similar to weekend courses, evening classes and such. I'd also say most of
what a residential PDC has to offer can also be found in a week-long or
longer hands-on residential course or the sort of course that Marsha Hanzi
talks about presenting, somewhat shorter than the traditional course, with
much more hands-on. I have not had any experience with the shorter
residential "fundamentals" courses some give, but I'd guess they are likewise
effective in fostering these effects which I'd say include "community"
feeling, learning to appreciate other learning styles, (in yourself and
others)
I am well aware of opinions about access, affordability & so on. The flip
side of that coin is often commitment. We're talking about whole systems- for
me it works best in a holistic learning environment.
What do people out there think?
-Rick


Rick Valley Northern Groves
PO Box 1236, Philomath, OR 97370
Mobile-(541)602-1315, hm.& msg. (541)929-7152 Bamboo catalog $3 or at
<http://www.teleport.com/~dbrooks/bamboo.html>
"Useful Bamboos and other plants‹ Permaculture education‹ Ecological design &
consultation centering on water,landform and horticultural systems"



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  • Re: E-correspondence PDC's, Pacific Edge Permaculture, 07/03/2000
    • <Possible follow-up(s)>
    • Re: E-correspondence PDC's, Scott Pittman, 07/08/2000

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