Grounding Practice.
This tab discusses the parts that ground and inform my practice model of Eco-Social Work. I have displayed different photographs of various mind maps I have created over the past two years. As a visual learner, mind maps support my process of seeing relationship between different parts of a system.
Praxis and Experiential Learning Model
The philosophy of Paulo Freire from Pedagogy of the Oppressed has informed my practice since my undergraduate degree in International Development. Praxis closely aligns with experiential learning (EL). In addition, both concepts integrate into an adult learning model through placing emphasis on action and reflection throughout an experience and process. Entering my Masters in Social Work as a Certified Teacher, my primary practice model lens was that of an Experiential Educator. Therefore, adult and transformative learning models that integrate EL and praxis into their frameworks remain at the foundation of my approach to practice. I consistently strive to sustain a people centered approach that invites inquiry and self-discovery into a client and/or community process. For example, trauma sensitive yoga guides participants through language of inquiry such as – explore, experiment, curious, investigate etc.
Praxis and Experiential Learning Model
The philosophy of Paulo Freire from Pedagogy of the Oppressed has informed my practice since my undergraduate degree in International Development. Praxis closely aligns with experiential learning (EL). In addition, both concepts integrate into an adult learning model through placing emphasis on action and reflection throughout an experience and process. Entering my Masters in Social Work as a Certified Teacher, my primary practice model lens was that of an Experiential Educator. Therefore, adult and transformative learning models that integrate EL and praxis into their frameworks remain at the foundation of my approach to practice. I consistently strive to sustain a people centered approach that invites inquiry and self-discovery into a client and/or community process. For example, trauma sensitive yoga guides participants through language of inquiry such as – explore, experiment, curious, investigate etc.
Holistic Approach: Therapeutic and Systems
My appreciation for an experiential approach to individual and group process is informed by experience as a facilitator of personal development opportunities in nature and through yoga. I recognize that yoga and nature offer holistic knowledge, and both invite people to explore “wilderness” – I am referring to either the ‘wilderness’ within a person or the natural wilderness. With a personal gravitation towards holistic approaches to practice, therapeutic models and systems oriented frameworks inform my style and way of thinking about complex dynamics and relationships. My experience at Four Worlds Center for Development Learning deepened my understanding of the holistic and inclusive nature of the medicine wheel. This is a traditional tool from different Indigenous societies that the organization is applying as a practice model used within First Nation communities.
My appreciation for an experiential approach to individual and group process is informed by experience as a facilitator of personal development opportunities in nature and through yoga. I recognize that yoga and nature offer holistic knowledge, and both invite people to explore “wilderness” – I am referring to either the ‘wilderness’ within a person or the natural wilderness. With a personal gravitation towards holistic approaches to practice, therapeutic models and systems oriented frameworks inform my style and way of thinking about complex dynamics and relationships. My experience at Four Worlds Center for Development Learning deepened my understanding of the holistic and inclusive nature of the medicine wheel. This is a traditional tool from different Indigenous societies that the organization is applying as a practice model used within First Nation communities.
Indigenous Knowledge
There were three core themes that always integrated into my assignments to a certain degree – spirituality, the natural environment, and indigenous knowledge. As a settler in Blackfoot territory, I value the knowledge and cultural traditions of Aboriginal people. Within international social work, indigenous knowledge needs to be embraced as a top priority when supporting a community process. For more insight, please see an assignment - Disaster Risk Reduction: What role does indigenous knowledge play?
Participatory Methods
Research that applies a participatory method overlaps with the prior methods I mentioned – praxis, EL, indigenous knowledge, and holistic approaches. An assignment I did for my research course designing an – Outward Bound Women of Courage Program Evaluation demonstrates the integration of participatory methods and experiential learning. Women of Courage is a therapeutic program for survivors of violence I have work closely with for years. The program is an example of using nature, the wilderness, and yoga to support healing and recovery using a experiential progression.
Human Rights
When I first started my Masters, I had strong orientation towards human rights based models. In 2012 I had the fortunate opportunity to participate in a Human Rights Facilitator Training Program through the John Humphrey Centre. This training deepened my understanding of the approach. After this experience, I continued my learning about the human rights approach to practice. Over time, I came to observe the limitations to this framework. I speak to this within a paper I wrote on ILO Convention 169. A human rights orientation is anthropocentric, and excludes planetary/Earth-based rights. In addition, the model has a narrow scope within collective societies where worldviews are inclusive of relationship with place and natural systems. Therefore, although I continue to use a human rights based model to ground my practice, I remain cognizant of its limitations within different cultures and worldviews.
There were three core themes that always integrated into my assignments to a certain degree – spirituality, the natural environment, and indigenous knowledge. As a settler in Blackfoot territory, I value the knowledge and cultural traditions of Aboriginal people. Within international social work, indigenous knowledge needs to be embraced as a top priority when supporting a community process. For more insight, please see an assignment - Disaster Risk Reduction: What role does indigenous knowledge play?
Participatory Methods
Research that applies a participatory method overlaps with the prior methods I mentioned – praxis, EL, indigenous knowledge, and holistic approaches. An assignment I did for my research course designing an – Outward Bound Women of Courage Program Evaluation demonstrates the integration of participatory methods and experiential learning. Women of Courage is a therapeutic program for survivors of violence I have work closely with for years. The program is an example of using nature, the wilderness, and yoga to support healing and recovery using a experiential progression.
Human Rights
When I first started my Masters, I had strong orientation towards human rights based models. In 2012 I had the fortunate opportunity to participate in a Human Rights Facilitator Training Program through the John Humphrey Centre. This training deepened my understanding of the approach. After this experience, I continued my learning about the human rights approach to practice. Over time, I came to observe the limitations to this framework. I speak to this within a paper I wrote on ILO Convention 169. A human rights orientation is anthropocentric, and excludes planetary/Earth-based rights. In addition, the model has a narrow scope within collective societies where worldviews are inclusive of relationship with place and natural systems. Therefore, although I continue to use a human rights based model to ground my practice, I remain cognizant of its limitations within different cultures and worldviews.