In the midst of marking many end-of-course essays, I have to pause. The
subject is Introduction to Nursing Knowledge. The students are third year. I
am an Aussie in northern BC, Canada. During our semester, I shared a DVD
called 'Water Light Passion' - 45 mins of dolphins, whales, ocean waves -
above and under the water, sunrise and sunset over Byron Bay (Australia),
along with viewing of the movie 'Patch Adams' when some of us cried. My
students didn't all attend but this is their choice. This was my 'gift' to
them to take into their practices as student-then-registered nurses in one
year's time (it's four years here). We have shared stories, reflections,
loss (my Father died a month ago). I've asked their permission to write
about some of the themes from their reflections - (and of course share with
them) after the usual ethics board clearance & anonymity processes have been
observed.
It is interesting, I think (as a midwife), how strongly we are pulled back
to our roots - we are all born out of an ocean when we leave our mothers'
bodies. There is a kind of strength we receive when we let ourselves link
with dolphins (and other creatures). The lessons may help us to learn how to
be with our planet instead of just on it. Kate, your new journey will be all
the richer for your link with the dolphins.
Penny Barrett.
On 4/10/08 3:10 AM, "Jack Whitehead" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> A warm welcome to Cathie Pearce, Sue Cronin and Kate Miller to our
> practitioner-researcher e-
> seminar.
>
> You can access Cathie's biography and teaching and research interests at:
>
> http://www.esri.mmu.ac.uk/resstaff/profile.php?surname=Pearce&%20name=Cathie
>
> These interests include her recently completed PhD on 'Experiencing and
> Experimenting with
> Pedagogies and Research'.
>
> I asked Kate for a few introductory details and this delightful response came
> back:
>
> Dear Jack,
> Two years ago I swam with dolphins. I jumped off the boat into sea that was
> far more choppy
> once in than it had looked from above, and found that it was impossible to do
> breast stroke
> wearing flippers, and that I had no idea now to use a snorkel. Each attempt
> at breathing only
> produced lungs full of sea water and consequent panic, the waves prevented any
> hope of seeing
> either dolphins, or the boat that was my life-line. I persevered. After a
> number of attempts I
> found if I was able momentarily to just float the dolphins became curious, and
> fleeting glimpses
> were my reward. The most difficult thing was getting back onto the heavily
> rolling boat and I
> ended up black and blue and exhausted. But I did it. All my visions of being
> cheek to cheek,
> singing gently, with a single beast in calm blue water with the sun filtering
> through and no
> apparent need for air, were severely dashed. But I did it - and I'm proud of
> it and I treasure the
> memory of every second.
> I have just started to write my dissertation on a lonely experience as a
> volunteer teacher trainer in
> Nepal over the last three years. (MEd at Brookes). Not unlike the experience
> of swimming with
> dolphins! I am now trying to find the way to acknowledge and value the myriad
> of inner and outer
> experiences.
> Kate
>
> I've just added Sue to the seminar a couple of minutes ago. Sue's research
> interests have focused
> on mathematics education. Sue's workshops include 'Thinking Skills in the
> Mathematics
> Classroom' where Sue shared 'Many practical ideas for teachers to use in their
> classrooms to
> develop pupils thinking skills and so to transform their students into
> independent problem
> solvers.'
>
> Dear Cathie, Sue and Kate - You can access the archives of the e-seminar from
> the What's New
> section of http://www.actionresearch.net . In a posting in thread 1 on the 9th
> April you will see
> Louise's question:
>
> 'How do I break free from the traditional scholarship model as a PhD student?'
>
> If the existing threads don't relate closely to your own interests in
> participating in the e-seminar
> please don't hesitate to create your own threads.
>
> Love Jack.
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