Teacher Training
Competency Area |
Examples |
Minimum Contact Hours |
| Required Contact (Classroom) Hours
|
| Mindfulness Studies |
- Overview of the mindfulness field
- History of mindfulness
- Science of Mindfulness
- Secularization of mindfulness
- Complementary practices (eg. cultivation of positive emotions, relational mindfulness, inquiry, working with trauma etc.)
|
40 |
| Personal Practice Maturation and Development |
- Ongoing mindfulness practice in group setting with instruction and community support
- Personal exploration work of relevant issues to mindfulness facilitators such as presence and embodiment, cultivation of confidence
|
25 |
| Teaching Methodology, Training and Supervision |
- Community building practices
- Mentorship and Supervision
- Feedback and peer support for facilitation practice
- Group facilitation skills
- Working with conflict in groups
- Working with individuals
|
50 |
| Contemporary Mindfulness Applications |
Exploration of practical applications of mindfulness in any of the following areas or related others:
- Education and youth
- Academia
- Workplace/business settings
- Medicine
- Psychology/Clinical Applications
|
10 |
| Cultural Competency |
- Diversity issues in the mindfulness field
- Working with diverse populations, cross-cultural issues
- Professional Ethics for Teachers
- Accessibility of language, and presentation, removing barriers
|
20 |
| Professional Development |
- Bringing mindfulness into institutions
- Financial issues in mindfulness facilitation as a career path
- Marketing
- Creating livelihood
- Networking
|
20 |
| Required Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours |
| Practicum / Field Work |
This component requires students to actively facilitate mindfulness in their work or volunteer setting
|
35 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS |
200 |
| Recommended Additional Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours |
| Personal Practice Maturation and Development |
- Personal daily practice
- 5-day or longer mindfulness meditation retreat with a qualified instructor
- Attendance in related mindfulness classes
|
250 |
| Study |
- Related reading, writing and academic work connected to the program
|
50 |
| Other Required Components |
| Requirement |
Criteria |
| Prerequisites for Program-entry |
Accepted students should have:
- A minimum 2 years of regular mindfulness meditation practice
- Attended at least 1 mindfulness meditation retreat of a minimum of 5 days with a qualified instructor. More than 1 retreat is highly recommended.
- Attended a mindfulness course like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) or equivalent
|
| Supervising Teachers |
Supervising teachers must have a minimum of 10 years of advanced mindfulness experience and personal practice, and 5 years of teaching experience as evidenced by verifiable personal statement on application.
|
| Observation and Feedback Mechanisms |
Students teaching skills should be observed live or on video for at least 2x30 minutes and provided feedback in written and verbal form a minimum of two times. (Mid-program and final)
|
| Personal Interaction between student and supervising teacher |
Opportunities for personal contact between students and supervising teachers must be available in the form of individual or group teaching or mentoring sessions as demonstrated by program curricula.
|
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