How does Naropa approach online education?
We start our program with a face-to-face Intensive in the summer in order to get to know each other and to develop a sense of community. This intimacy carries over into the online environment in the fall and spring. The Intensive also allows students to learn and engage various transpersonal practices, such as sitting meditation and nature-based contemplation. Our online courses encourage self-reflection, personal inquiry, deep listening to others, and the values of community. The interactive nature of the online environment supports student engagement within each class, and it accommodates a variety of learning styles. Contemplative pedagogy promotes reflective, heart-centered awareness and presence, which contribute to meaningful learning and exchange, even via the internet. While it may seem counter-intuitive to think of contemplative and whole-person-centered education online, we have been pleased with our success in this area.
