DRAFT Thesis Project Proposed Outline

Proposed Project Outline:

A Mindful Education Course for Teacher Candidates

1.      Title Page

2.      Copyright Page

3.      Acknowledgements

4.      Abstract

a.       Currently, there are little to no opportunities for preservice teacher instruction in mindful education or mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) despite research that has shown the possibility of positive benefits such as increased attention, focus, self-awareness, emotional-regulation, self-efficacy, and compassion, as well as reducing the negative aspects of unhealthy stress, tension, and burnout. A course in mindful education specifically designed for inclusion in teacher education programs would address this educational gap and could be a significant benefit to teacher candidates, early-career teachers, and their future students.

This creative thesis is a developed college course of the theory, research, and practice of mindful education based in learning-centered and contemplative pedagogies. The purpose of this project is to add value and content to preservice teacher education by informing teacher candidates of the possibilities of benefit that can come from both a personal mindfulness practice and introduction of mindful techniques to students. (148 words)

5.      Rationale Paper

a.       Thesis statement

                                                              i.       I suggest that offering preservice teachers an opportunity to explore mindful education could provide the necessary tools to encourage increased attentional focus in their (future-)students, self-awareness, and self-regulation, while supporting improved classroom management skills, self-efficacy, and social-emotional competence that can facilitate teacher wellbeing, instructional performance, and job satisfaction (Jennings, 2015; Olson, 2014; Rechtschaffen, 2014).

b.      Literature Review

                                                              i.      Mindful Education – Definitions & Research

1.      Mindfulness

2.      Mindful Education

3.      Mindful Teachers & Teaching Mindfulness

4.      Student Stress & Behavior Management

5.      Educator Wellbeing – Social Emotional Competence, Efficacy & Burnout

a.       Definitions

b.      Research findings

6.      Additional Considerations

a.       Trauma sensitivity

b.      The question of religion

                                                            ii.      Mindful Education for Preservice Teachers

1.      Community Colleges

2.      Mindfulness in Preservice Teacher Programs

                                                          iii.      Creating a Course for Preservice Teachers

                                                          iv.      Conclusion

c.       Course Design

                                                              i.      Previous research projects

                                                            ii.      Course goals

                                                          iii.      Methodology

1.      Experiential learning

                                                          iv.      Pedagogy

1.      Learning-centered

2.      Contemplative

d.      Course Delivery Methods

                                                              i.      In-class

                                                            ii.      Hybrid

                                                          iii.      Online

                                                          iv.      Term length

e.       Audience

                                                              i.      Demographics & Positionality

6.      Syllabus (creative component)

a.       Description

b.      Goals

c.       Learning Objectives

d.      Texts and Materials

e.       Course Schedule

                                                              i.      Major assignment description

                                                            ii.      Participation

                                                          iii.      Grading

                                                          iv.      Weekly assignment schedule

1.      Quarter-length

2.      Semester-length

7.      Instruction Lesson Plans

a.       Methodology

b.      Lesson Plans

8.      Student Study Guides

a.       Methodology

b.      Study Guides

9.      References (Works Cited)

10.  Appendices

a.       Appendix A

                                                              i.      Twenty Principles of Mindfulness

b.      Appendix B

                                                              i.      Examples of Mindfulness Curricula & Programs

c.       Appendix C

                                                              i.      Mindfulness Resources – Children’s Books

d.      Appendix D

                                                              i.      Course Skeleton

1.      Quarter

2.      Semester

e.       Appendix E

                                                              i.      One-Day Retreat Instructions & Schedule