This document outlines a Masters of Education program in Humane Education from the Institute for Humane Education. The program teaches about humane education topics like environmental ethics and human rights. Students complete an independent learning project on a topic like curriculum development. The document proposes an "Inquiry in Systems Change Project" using action research and appreciative inquiry techniques to study and address issues. It provides definitions and examples of these approaches. The project would guide students through developing a small-scale project to address an issue in a system they are part of. Teaching materials like a syllabus, readings, and assessment strategies are suggested.

1. Exploring A New Approach to Instruction in Higher EducationA Master’s of Education project with the Institute for Humane Education

2. What is Humane Education?Providing accurate informationFostering curiosity, creativity, and critical thinkingInstilling reverence, respect, and responsibility

3. Offering positive choices and tools for problem solvingInstitute for Humane EducationMasters ProgramIntroduction to Humane EducationEnvironmental EthicsAnimal ProtectionHuman RightsPracticumIndependent Learning ProjectOther ProgramsCertificateOnline CoursesSummer InstituteTeacher TrainingsWeb Communitywww.humaneeducation.org

4. Independent Learning ProjectFalls into one of three categories:Research – program evaluation, survey projectCreative – video production, children’s bookProfessional – business plan, curriculumInquiry in Systems Change ProjectCurriculum development projectA need within Jane Goodall’s Roots & ShootsA critical need in Higher Education in generalA personal interest

5. A Critical Need to Do this WorkAcademically AdriftA longitudinal four year research project with used the Collegiate Learning Assessment to examine how individual experiences and institutional contexts are related to students’ development of critical thinking, complex reasoning, and writing skills.Learning in Higher Education – Project Description - http://highered.ssrc.org/?page_id=28Social Sciences Research Council

6. A Critical Need to Do this WorkAcademically AdriftCore FindingsStudents define their college experiences as more social than academic, spend a limited amount of time studying, and choose classes that will not require much work of them.Gains in critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing skills were disturbingly low.Inequalities among students persist into their collegiate experiences.There is notable variation in experiences and outcomes across institutions.Learning in Higher Education – Core Findings - http://highered.ssrc.org/?page_id=28Social Sciences Research Council

7. Inquiry in Systems Change ProjectProvides a framework and curriculum for the use of action research and appreciative inquiry as techniques for instruction.

8. Inquiry in Systems Change ProjectExplores the stories of effective change-makers, in environmental ethics, animal protection and human rights and what they did to change the systems around them.

9. Inquiry in Systems Change ProjectCalls students to think critically about the systems of which they are a part, identify ways they can build off the good parts to make them better, or imagine and innovate entirely new systems.

10. Inquiry in Systems Change ProjectGuides students through the process of developing their own small scale project that addresses an issue in a system of which they are a part.

11. Some DefinitionsAction ResearchParticipatory reflective process and iterative approach to problem solving.Appreciative InquirySystematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. Uses unconditional positive questions.

12. Typical Action Research ModelMargaret Riel – Center for Collaborative Action Research

13. PositiveLife GivingCoreThe Appreciative Inquiry “4-D” CycleAppreciate “the best of what is”Create “what will be”Imagine “what could be”Determine “what should be”http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/

14. The Appreciative Inquiry “4-D” Cyclehttp://www.clergyleadership.com/appreciative/ai.html

15. ProblemSolvingAppreciative Inquiryhttp://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/

16. Example of AI in PracticeA consulting agency is tasked with reducing sexual harassment cases at their client’s company.They offer educational programs and information to the company’s employees to no avail.AI is used to find another solution – rather than addressing sexual harassment directly, the agency develops new programs around fostering quality inter-gender relationships. From: A Positive Revolution in Change - http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/uploads/whatisai.pdf

17. The Class and The PracticeSo it’s action research, what are we studying?What are commonalities among people who are effective at changing systems or innovating new ones?What are effective strategies for teaching in Higher Education?So we’re going to use Appreciative Inquiry? How?

18. Question FrameworkConsidering the work of [Change-maker X], what do we appreciatethe most about their approach and what they accomplished?Reflecting on [Answer to Question #1], how can we build off of [Change-maker X]’s work in today’s context to make it better?

19. Exemplary Change-makers

20. Exemplary Change-makersConsidering an exemplary change-maker that you’re aware of, what do you appreciate the most about how and what they accomplished?Considering the issue they addressed, how would you build off of what they accomplished in today’s context?

21. Holistic ApproachEvery day, each and every one of us makes a difference. It’s up to use to choose how we’re going to use that difference to make the world a better place. Dr. Jane Goodall, DBE

22. Holistic ApproachWhen we’re talking about making systems better, or innovating entirely new ones, we can only be effective when we do so through a holistic lens.Environmental EthicsAnimal ProtectionHuman Rights

23. A Practice that Could Be Used BroadlyChoose experts and change-makers from your field. Invite the students to learn about their work, and ask them to say how they appreciate it, and how they would build off of it.Challenge them to do just that.

24. A Practice that Could Be Used BroadlyProfessor X – I want to teach a class about water.Human rights – Privatization of water – who’s a change-maker in this arena?Environmental Ethics – Water Pollution - who’s a change-maker in this arena?Animal Protection – Aquatic Wildlife Conservation - who’s a change-maker in this arena?

25. Project PlanningResearch and DevelopmentSMART GoalsWork Breakdown StructuresIdentity and MarketingBudgeting and FinanceEvaluation

26. Course Breakdown

27. Course Breakdown

28. Assessment

29. Curriculum ComponentsSyllabusSuggested Course ReadingsSuggested Course Resources (Videos/Articles)Reading and Discussion GuidesWriting Activities and AssignmentsGuide to Creating a Course BlogProject Planning Activities and Resources

30. Websites Referencedwww.humaneeducation.orghighered.ssrc.orgcadres.pepperdine.edu/ccar/appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/www.clergyleadership.com/appreciative/ai.html