Analysis
When planning the timing of my two-year diploma in late December 2011, I thought of doing this course in December 2012 to have more time to prepare myself as a teacher, but as I mentioned before I'm not very good to be tied to plans.
So I'll do my best by pushing my boundaries to try to make, a good assessment to get the best performance.
So I'll do my best by pushing my boundaries to try to make, a good assessment to get the best performance.
From Patterns to details
When I was younger I have attend to a couple of boy scout and camp instructor courses, also I have the experience to work as an instructor during four years, so I am quite familiar with preparing and organising two weeks programs whit its activities, food menus, day and week flow ...
I'll follow a patter that I think it works very well, at beginning of the course the participants are excited and a have very high energy level, this energy will decrease day after day by doing mental and physical activities.
The way I like to work is starting the course slowly so they have time during the two first days, to introduce and integrate themselves into the place and it's community.
The way I like to work is starting the course slowly so they have time during the two first days, to introduce and integrate themselves into the place and it's community.
Then start with some introductions and "Building community" activities, that will be located at the beginning of the schedule. In this case "Building community activities " are the ones that are inside of another subject as gardening or natural building, and helps to people start to connect together.
Introduction activities
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Building community
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So I like start slowly but continuously increasing the input energy intensity, and day after day of doing mental and physical activities the participants get tired, and I think that one Day off to catch and store energy will be necessary to keep going until the course ends.
With one day of rest they have time to recharge batteries and relax them brain mussels to be ready for the second round, and I think that will be located just in the middle of the course.
I think that pizza night could be perfect before the day off, so they can know each other and strengthen their connections.
With one day of rest they have time to recharge batteries and relax them brain mussels to be ready for the second round, and I think that will be located just in the middle of the course.
I think that pizza night could be perfect before the day off, so they can know each other and strengthen their connections.
So after the break I start the second week very similar, slowly but not needing introductory activities, then we can continue the learning and practising process, increasing in intensity of input energy until the course ends.
At the next draw I have shown the energy flows with a blue colour line representing the participant's energy level, and with red line the input of energy that it requires to attend the course. This energy flows have a Saw pattern shape. |
To define the timing schedule I'll use a very similar base program than the ones we do at Panya (see more at the Observations), this way is more adapted to the Panya flow.
So there are some sessions that I think are obvious where to located at the timetable, for example:
There are no activities at the first morning so then they have time to accommodate and get ready (most of them will be backpacker travellers. I think that the Panya tour have to be the first activity, and followed at night with people introduction and name games. This two activities will full the first day.
There are no activities at the first morning so then they have time to accommodate and get ready (most of them will be backpacker travellers. I think that the Panya tour have to be the first activity, and followed at night with people introduction and name games. This two activities will full the first day.
Also the last day afternoon I want to use to do an assess with evaluations from the participants.
This is for me very important because Accepting them Feedback I can see from them perspective which are my weak and strong points, and Tweak and Tweak to get more professional day after day better. Now I can start to stack all those activities in the schedule and as using McHarg's exclusion method, and I have the rest of the timetable with empty spaces to organise the learning subjects. So at the next picture you can see how can be the schedule with the activities already discussed. |
Sector analysis
Efficient energy planning
In the day to day planning, the physical/mental activity energy level and the weather conditions, had greatly influenced on how to distribute the activities. I'm thinking to do the theoretical classes earlier in the day where people just wake up, so they can put more attention in class instead of when they are trying to digest the lunch, with the intense heat in the mid day hours, which I prefer to be outdoors spending time in a active and entertaining way.
Is not very common to have rainfall at this time of year, but if this happens I will make changes in the course structure, been flexible and moving outdoor and indoor activities in a way to cover all the topics I want to reach.
Anyway I will keep thinking positive, and plan the schedule like will be sunny all the days.
In the day to day planning, the physical/mental activity energy level and the weather conditions, had greatly influenced on how to distribute the activities. I'm thinking to do the theoretical classes earlier in the day where people just wake up, so they can put more attention in class instead of when they are trying to digest the lunch, with the intense heat in the mid day hours, which I prefer to be outdoors spending time in a active and entertaining way.
Is not very common to have rainfall at this time of year, but if this happens I will make changes in the course structure, been flexible and moving outdoor and indoor activities in a way to cover all the topics I want to reach.
Anyway I will keep thinking positive, and plan the schedule like will be sunny all the days.
PIC Input - Output
Which are my teaching Skills,
and how can I use them?
To plan the course I'll differentiate some categories of learning topics as:
With this mind map I explore a bit deeper which activities I can do during the course to teach the skills I have. To read more about my skills click (here). In all of them I have a little bit of knowledge and experience, but I'll try to gain more by researching and practising before the course. I can use Panyas facilities and tools to implement the activities. |
Boundaries
I think is a bit ambitious that only me will perform a two-week course without other people support, especially on the physical realisation. I don't know until where I can I be able to bring the overexertion and exhaustion that's involved in doing it.
With my insecurities as a teacher at the beginning of the course planning, I have felt a little hasty doing the course so early, but I understand that this is the best for my community so I accept the challenge.
To gain self confidence and improve my skills as a teacher, I have planned some previous small workshops to meet the Panya's needs and my learning needs at once. I haven't thought about running a PDC, because it is my first year and I do not feel very self-confident I prefer to make it as introductory, and if I want to run a PDC I'll have to associate with other people who controls better some of subjects that I don't feel enough ready to teach, as soils, aquaponics, earth works, etc... To see the plan and implementation of the course training workshops click (here). |
Support decision
I ask to my community members who is interested in practising their teachers skills in any of the activities, leading and teaching were really they are motivated to communicate.
A week before the course I decided to contact my friend and colleague Matt Prosser to ask him support to direct the course together. I thought it would be very positive for all to have a experienced teacher in the most challenge moments, and learn from other some of the subjects in which I felt more insecure to teach. |
Zones
Zone 00
Working with Matt could integrate spirituality into this PIP.
He has much ideas to contributed in this regard, adding tools as the reading of the grates, meditations and techniques to perform the checking in the morning.
I'm thinking to introduce biodynamic agriculture, and one of the nights show a documentary about, which will be discussed the day after.
I also want to include into the zones explanation the zone zerozero as ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually.
Working with Matt could integrate spirituality into this PIP.
He has much ideas to contributed in this regard, adding tools as the reading of the grates, meditations and techniques to perform the checking in the morning.
I'm thinking to introduce biodynamic agriculture, and one of the nights show a documentary about, which will be discussed the day after.
I also want to include into the zones explanation the zone zerozero as ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually.
Zone 0
I can use the cottage where I live at Panya to teach or do activities during the hard sun or rain time, there I have some resources as electricity, a little kitchen with water, sofas and space to hold ten people nicely.
I can use the cottage where I live at Panya to teach or do activities during the hard sun or rain time, there I have some resources as electricity, a little kitchen with water, sofas and space to hold ten people nicely.
Zone 1
The Panya project have facilities that make a planing a course a dream come true. All around the house are different teaching spaces, and many projects and structures that need to be implemented o maintained. Here is a lot of potential to use doing walk and talks and physical activities. Zone 2
At the nearest village from where I live are amazing examples of things related to permaculture, and I want to go to visit them to refresh concepts in our minds that were talked during the course and also learn from other people examples. Also there is a nice place to have a dinner at one of the nights and another place to harvest the bamboo to do natural building activities. |
Zone 3
Zone 3 is a bit further away and I don't go that frequently, for example Chiang Mai that's the nearest city where I can get especial tools and items.
Also because is a busy place it's lots of places where I can add my courses, and there is a great flow of potential students.
Zone 4
I can use the woods around to do peak some materials to do the course, some of this zone I can find near my house and some times we can visit other forest examples at places that I don't visit often, as a big reservoir near by. In Thailand are lots of The King projects around the country that rarely sometimes we go to get all type of organic plants, or talk with them universities.
Also I considerate that internet can be in this zone in terms of putting advertisement seeds and check if are growing the number of interested participants, and once they want to do the course I can follow their track from the distance.
Zone 5
This zone can be the non managed forest areas where we can see wild examples of tropic clime ecosystem.
Also internet in can be at this zone when I looking for knowledge and information to enrich my course, here is non interaction and lots of knowledge gilds.
Also because is a busy place it's lots of places where I can add my courses, and there is a great flow of potential students.
Zone 4
I can use the woods around to do peak some materials to do the course, some of this zone I can find near my house and some times we can visit other forest examples at places that I don't visit often, as a big reservoir near by. In Thailand are lots of The King projects around the country that rarely sometimes we go to get all type of organic plants, or talk with them universities.
Also I considerate that internet can be in this zone in terms of putting advertisement seeds and check if are growing the number of interested participants, and once they want to do the course I can follow their track from the distance.
Zone 5
This zone can be the non managed forest areas where we can see wild examples of tropic clime ecosystem.
Also internet in can be at this zone when I looking for knowledge and information to enrich my course, here is non interaction and lots of knowledge gilds.
The course price
Being my first time making a course of its kind, after analysing my margins I have focused it on a basic level approach, which is why I wanted to put a low price and at the same time offer a affordable and accessible price. As a fair share one quarter of the money income is distributed among all long-term volunteers, so I want it to be worthwhile for all of us even if at the end is only to pay our visas. And the other quarter of the money goes to the centre. About people care I try to be very honest with the optimal level expectations of the course. I added a paragraph in the online ad where I introduce myself and talk about for who is the course directed, this will help to the participants not be surprised with not being the experience they were looking for. I analysed other courses expenses accounts and I calculated my costs. As a earth care ethic I try to use as much renewable,free, recycled and local natural materials, so will not be great expenses and like this I can do it affordable and proportionate for all. |
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Also on top of the total price I have added a bit more to play with possible discounts request, which after the experience in this centre about the 90% of the students have asked for it.