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Personal inquiry, dialogue, collaboration, inspired action and service, Gaia
Apprentices will work side-by-virtual-side with the Haven producers, editors and mentors. They will take an active role behind the scenes in Haven, helping create and evolve the different zones. Their own interests will determine the particular zones they assist with. This part of the apprenticeship is an intensive immersion in new media "journalism" with our award-winning web producers and editors as guides. Each apprentice will design and create an individual project with support from their mentor. This project could be a study of lucid dreaming, creating a web guide to chaos theory, an exploration of the issues in genetically modified food, how a world music web radio station like eardrum.com works etc. Each apprentice has complete freedom in designing their individual project. Upon completion, individual projects will be shared in the Haven environment as a contribution to others around the world who may have similar interests. This is the service component of the apprenticeship. Our own inquiries are of value to others. In the future such inquiries can lead to right livelihood and sustainable businesses. Experience gained in the apprenticeship builds a bridge between learning and livelihood. In addition, each apprentice will contribute to at least one collaborative project--these projects will be dreamed up and created by groups of two or more apprentices. Ideally, apprentices will evolve the collaborative projects over time, possibly even spinning them off into independent and self-sustaining zones that are community services and/or sustainable businesses. In the process of creating the individual and collaborative projects, apprentices will master various forms and tools that intrigue them, from the art of the interview (in person, telephone, video and email) to online journalism to web graphics, architecture and virtual world building. It is hoped that apprentices will come up with crafts to master that we have not yet thought of. That's when the real fun begins…
The individual projects and the collaborative projects, along with an online journal, will be key components in the web portfolio. The journal and portfolio will be the primary tools for self-assessment, along with weekly online sessions with the mentor.
All of the apprentices and mentors will keep electronic journals to document the process. These journals will aid individuals in keeping track of the journey (trail notes) and will offer insights to others attempting similar adventures (travel memoirs). This combination of personal and interpersonal benefits will guide us in our journaling. Mentors will support each apprentice in creating an online portfolio of their work and experiences. This will include any artifacts of the individual inquiry and the collaborative projects (audio and video interviews, graphics, articles, etc.) Porfolios will vary with individual needs and interest. As a part of the process, we will explore other online portfolios for ideas and inspiration. We are encouraging the apprentice team and mentors to read two books...The Web of Life, by Fritjof Capra, and Creating a Life Worth Living, by Carol Lloyd. Essential dialogues will evolve based on topics in these two books. Reading the books will not be necessary for full participation in these dialogues, but will add depth to the conversations. The use of "organic technology" plays a central role in the Haven Apprenticeship Path. Edge-ucator and colleague Michael Reber defines organic technology as "technology that assists in the learning process, transforms thinking, and helps people have control of their own learning." The Haven Apprenticeship Path's connected-learning environment (we prefer the term connected learning to distance learning) is extremely media-rich. We can as easily communicate with graphics, audio and video as with text. We believe that 21st century problems demand visual thinking skills--the Haven Apprenticeship Path gives each of us the opportunity to practice these new media in the contexts of individual creative expression, and dynamic and effective collaboration. We have selected Convene's powerful and versatile ac@deme software for our connected learning environment. The ac@deme software allows learners to access the apprenticeship environment on the web or download all the day's resources and communications to their local computer and work offline (especially useful for families with one phone line using dial up access to the Internet). Alternately, for people in remote areas without Internet access, apprenticeship team members can dial into an 800 number and access all the materials and communications from the server without the need to go online. The software will initially be delivered on CD-ROM and will be installed on the user's computer. Especially important, Convene, the software provider, offers 24 hour/7 day a week user-friendly tech support by telephone and email.
As new technologies emerge, we will continually evaluate them, adding them to our basic tools as appropriate.
Monthly online gatherings are held for all the parents of apprentices who wish to participate. They can also receive a monthly newsletter with insights and anecdotes from the apprentices and their mentors. If there is interest, we will create a discussion list/learning community for parents. Travel the Apprenticeship Path into the 21st Century. You can start the Apprenticeship Path at any time, if spaces are available. Phase 1 Dec 1 - Dec 28 Dec 29 - January 25, 2001! Jan 26 - Feb 22 Feb 23 - Mar 22 Mar 23 - Apr 19 Phase 2 May 4 - May 31 June 1 - June 28 June 29 - July 26 July 27 - Aug 23 Aug 24 - Sept 20 Phase 3 Oct 5 - Nov 1 Nov 2 - Nov 29 Nov 30 - Dec 27 Dec 28 - January 24, 2002! Jan 25 - Feb 21 ]-[ |
