Mining the Gems: Individual Development
Weekly Assignments

Compiled by: W. Huitt
Last Revised: November 2009

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General instructions:

Each week we will read and consider at least an article from a secular/scientific source and Baha’i scripture for the topic to be considered. You should make at least one posting on the selected readings. Your posting should provide information to your fellow students as to the value of the article and how it supports or differs from a Baha'i scripture you read. Some weeks you will also be invited to explore links to websites and articles on the topic written from a Baha'i perspective.

The following are some questions/issues to consider as you prepare your postings:

1.      Which article did you read? Why did you initially select that one?

2.      What is the major concept(s) or issue(s) the author is attempting to address?

3.      In your opinion, did the author achieve his/her purpose? Why or why not?

4.      What major concept, principle, issue, etc. specific to this topic do you believe is important based on your reading of the Baha’i scripture? Was this considered in the article you read?

5.      If you read an article or visited a website that you enjoyed, you might want to write a short description and state your reasons for recommending it to others.

6.      How do you think you could use this information in guiding your personal development? In guiding the development of children and youth?

Unit 1: Introduction (Part A; October 1 - 7)

Write a short introduction with some ideas about why you are taking this course and what you hope to get from the experience.

Read one of the following articles relating to issues of the relationship of religion, science, and philosophy. Write an overview/critique of the article; discuss how you agree or disagree with a major point the author is making.

• Agoshkova, E. (1998). Systems thinking in the twenty-first century. Paper presented at the Twentieth World Congress of Philosophy, in Boston, MA, August 10-15. Retrieved September 2009, from http://web.bu.edu/wcp/Papers/TKno/TKnoAgos.htm
• Clarken, R. (2002). Using educational principles from psychology and the world's religions to improve education. Paper presented at the Ninth International Literacy and Education Research Network Conference on Learning, Beijing, China, July 16-20, 2002. Retrieved September 2009, from  http://www-instruct.nmu.edu/education/rclarken/education/world-religion-improve-education.htm
• Hefner, P. (2006). Religion and science--Two way traffic? Zygon: Journal of Religion & Science, 41(1).  Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.zygonjournal.org/editorial_6.html
• Johnson, W., Johnson, A., & McKenna, J. (1999). Science and religion at a crossroads: An educational perspective. Quodlibet Online Journal, 1(6). Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.quodlibet.net/johnson-science.shtml
• Myers, D. (2005). Psychological science meets the world of faith. APS Observer, 18(10). Retrieved September 2009, from http://psychologicalscience.org/observer/getArticle.cfm?id=1861

Read scripture selections for an introduction to the course:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Introa

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Intro
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Intro

Unit 2: Introduction (Part B; October 8 - 15)

Read one of the following articles or view the webcast. These provide an overview to the topics to be discussed in the course:

• Clarken, R. (2003, April). Knowing  loving and willing: Basic capacities for developing human potential Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago, IL. Retrieved September 2009, from http://www-instruct.nmu.edu/~rclarken/KNOWINGLOVINGANDWILLING-AERAPAP.DOC
• Clarken, R. (2004). Unfolding pattern of human development. Northern Michigan University. Retrieved September 2009, from  http://mediasite.nmu.edu/NMUMediasite/Viewer/?peid=d941d792ea654df7953119ca1c3456bb
• Huitt, W. (2006, April 26). Becoming a Brilliant Star: A framework for discussing formative holistic education. Paper presented at the International Networking for Educational Transformation (iNet) Conference, Augusta, GA. Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/brilstar/brilstar.html (more complete paper)
• Huitt, W. (2007). Success in the conceptual age. Paper presented at the 32^nd Annual Meeting of the Georgia Educational Research Association, October 26. Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/papers/conceptual_age_s.doc
• Stack, R. (2005, March 15). Introduction to integral theory: Part 1. HENT news, 13. Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.hent.org/hent/hentnews/hentnews13.htm
• Stack, R. (2005, March 15). Introduction to integral theory: Part 2. HENT news, 14. Retrieved September 2009, from http://www.hent.org/hent/hentnews/hentnews14.htm

Read scripture selections for introduction to the topics to be covered in the course:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Introb

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Intro
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Intro

Unit 3: Spiritual Development (October 16 - October 24)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Spiritual

Read scripture selections for spiritual development:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Spiritual

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Spiritual
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Spiritual

Unit 4: Moral Character Development (October 25 - November 1)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Moral

Read scripture selections for moral character development:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Moral

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Moral
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Moral

Unit 5: Personal Style (November 2 - 10)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Style

Read scripture selections for personal style:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Style

Explore at least one of the personal style inventories:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Style

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore additional inventories as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Style

Unit 6: Cognitive Reasoning and Development (November 11- November 19)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Cognitive

Read scripture selections for cognition and thinking:

• http://teach.valdosta.edu/whuitt/mining/gemsbh.html#Cognitive

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Cognitive
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Cognitive

Unit 7: Affect and Emotional Development (November 20 - November 28)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Affect

Read scripture selections for affect and emotion:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Affect

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Affect
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Affect

Unit 8: Conative/Volitional Development (November 29 - December 7)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Conative

Read scripture selections for conation and volition:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Conative

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Conative
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Conative

Unit 9: Social Development (December 8 - December 16)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Social

Read scripture selections for social development:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Social

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Social
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Social

Unit 10: Awareness and Consciousness (December 17 - December 24)

Read one of the linked articles:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsart.html#Awareness

Read scripture selections for awareness and consciousness:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbh.html#Awareness

Read other articles linked above, articles from Baha’i sources, and/or explore weblinks as desired:

• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemsbhart.html#Awareness
• http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/mining/gemslks.html#Awareness

Unit 11: Summary and Reporting of Activities (December 25 - December 31 )

Discussion Questions: What have you learned about the subject of the course? What particularly struck or interested you? How will it help you in your own personal development and transformation? How will it assist you in completing the goals of the Five Year Plan?

Group correspondents: please send a report of your local study group’s meeting to your group’s mentor.

Final Two Projects: To complete the course, all students must do two things: a presentation of some sort, and a written exercise of some sort. If you are a member of a group you can do these two projects collaboratively, but everyone should turn in their own written description of what they did. Please make a post to the forum summarizing what you have done.