Introduction to Education for Peace Certificate Course

Course Objectives

Peace and education are inseparable aspects of civilization. No civilization is truly progressive without education, and no education system is truly civilizing unless it is based on the universal principles of peace. However, our schools have become increasingly conflicted and violent. School textbooks and theories upon which their contents are based, are predominantly written from the perspective of conflict and “otherness.” While we rightly expect schools to be safe and stress-free environments, in reality they are often the opposite—unsafe and stressful. Our schools, therefore, inadvertently promote a culture of conflict and violence, and their students do not learn the ways of peace. Introduction to Education for Peace (EFP) Course is designed to integrate an orientation and focus on unity (in the context of diversity) and peace-based worldview development into contemporary pedagogical practices in the family, classroom, school environment and other learning contexts.

Course Overview

Introduction to EFP Course provides an overview of the theory and practice of EFP and explores the applications of unity-centered methodologies to intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, and intergroup contexts.  Topics covered include: concept of unity, definition and classification of worldview, and the intersections of developmental psychology with peace and peacebuilding. A brief review of the implementation of EFP in the classroom, school, and other learning environments is another component of the course.

By the end of the course students should:

• Understand the concepts of Unity and Worldview in a developmental context.
• Be able to use these concepts to analyze processes of peacebuilding, including their own practices and skill-sets as peacebuilders.
• Understand the dynamics of prevention of conflict, bullying, violence, and prejudice through the processes of unity building and worldview transformation.
• Have a basic understanding of Education for Peace application in the classroom, school community, and the family.

Course Schedule, Study Guidelines, and Readings

This is a self-directed course with access to an EFP faculty via EFP Academy. Course participants, on average, require 8 weeks to complete the course and another several weeks to write their reflection paper. The following schedule and guidelines are provided to facilitate your approach to the course:

Part 1: Concept of Unity

1. Definition of Unity and its expressions
2. Conflict and its relationship to unity
3. Relationship between unity, violence prevention, and peace-based leadership

• Required Readings
  • Danesh, H.B. (2006). “Towards an Integrative Theory of Peace Education.” Journal of Peace Education 3(1): 55–78. (Available from your course site on the EFP Academy)
  • Danesh, H.B., and Sara Clarke-Habibi. (2007). Education for Peace Curriculum Manual: a conceptual and practical guide. EFP Press, 2007. Unit 1 (Available from your course site on the EFP Academy)

• Individual Exercise: Explore your own understanding and approach to the Concept of Unity. Has it always been the same? Have you questioned your understanding of the concept of unity, if yes, why and how?
• Group Exercise: Make a presentation on the concept of unity to a group (your co-workers, students, friends, etc.) and engage them in discourse on this topic. Have them bring examples of times they have experienced inner unity, interpersonal unity, family unity, classroom unity, work-place unity, community unity, etc. Note their appreciation of and reservations about unity. Explore with them the difference between unity and uniformity.
• Share your thoughts, questions, and the outcome of your individual and group exercises with your EFP Faculty via EFP Academy

Part 2: Concept of Worldview

1. The concept of worldview and types of worldviews
2. Definition and classification of Worldview
3. Why has peace eluded humanity and its relationship with our worldviews?

• Required Reading
  • Clarke-Habibi, Sara (2005). Transforming Worldviews: The Case of Education for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Journal of Transformative Education. Vol.   3 No. 1, pp. 33–56. Sage Publications. (Available from your course site on the EFP Academy)
  • Danesh, H.B., and Sara Clarke-Habibi. (2007). Education for Peace Curriculum Manual: a conceptual and practical guide. EFP Press, 2007. Unit 2 (Available from your course site on the EFP Academy)

• Individual Exercise: Explore your own worldview. Has it always been the same? Have you questioned your worldview, if yes, why and how?
• Group Exercise: Create group as you did for the “Unity” segment and engage them in the exploration of their own worldviews and the prevailing worldviews in their respective environments, etc.
• Share your thoughts, questions, and the outcome of your personal and group exercises with an EFP Faculty via EFP Academy

Part 3: Final Paper

A final reflection paper of between 800-1000 words is required for the completion of this course.  The paper should reflect your journey through the course, your engagement with the course materials, and the results of the personal and group exercises outlined in the course study guidelines. Your paper should be typed and double-spaced.  The paper is due within 8 weeks after the completion of the course.

Course Fee

• Applicants from outside of Canada: US$ 100.00
• Applicants resident in Canada: CA$ 100.00
• Applicants from the UN designated Developing countries: US$ 50.00

For the list of eligible countries see: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/least_developed_countries.htm

Application within Canada

Certificate

Upon satisfactory completion of this course you receive Introduction to EFP Certificate of Completion. This certificate may be used to enroll in the Education for Peace Professional Diploma course (10 modules) and receive credits for 2 modules with corresponding reduction in course fees.

Application Procedure

• Completed Application Form
• Curriculum Vitae or Résumé (sent with Application Form)
• Email filled out Application Form and Curriculum Vitae or Résumé to info@efp.pathwisedev.ca
• Purchase course through 'Add to Cart' button above. You will receive information on how to access the course via email after your Application Form and Curriculum Vitae/Résumé have been received.