6-WEEK Graduate-Level COURSE

The Nature of Learning

The central project of this six-week course is to integrate the philosophy and model of Charlotte Mason (1842-1923) with current theories of the nature of learning. If we are to make sense of Charlotte Mason’s credibility in the 21st century, then situating her thought and ideas in a current context is essential to what educators need to know about how children learn. Students will conduct a self-examination of their own learning experiences so as to make explicit their own default theories of learning and re-examine these experiences at the end of the course in light of reading and discussions conducted in each session. Contemporary theories of learning and knowing will be examined against Mason’s theory of learning to determine compatibility with Mason’s fundamental tenet, “Children are born persons.” In-class projects include analyzing lessons from current-day curriculum so as to determine on which theory of learning they are based, and revising them according to Mason’s theory of learning.

Meeting Times:

Thursdays @ 7:00-8:00pm EST

Course Begins:

The class officially begins the week of Sept. 14.

Class Meetings:

September 25; October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29

Course Topics
Week 1: Learning Experiences
Week 2: Theories of Learning
Week 3: The Role of the Senses in Learning
Week 4: The Role of Attention in Learning
Week 5: The Role of the Mind and Ideas

in Learning

Week 6: Changes in Personal Conception of The Nature of Learning

Prerequisites: None required. Anyone can jump into these courses regardless of their academic background or even their familiarity with Charlotte Mason's ideas. While these courses require more written assignments and dive further into Charlotte Mason's ideas and educational theory than our certificate level courses, we believe they are rewarding and accessible for anyone willing to put in the work – whether a homeschooling parent, classroom teacher, school administrator, or grad student.

Students who wish to proceed to the University of Cumbria MA in Charlotte Mason Studies may need an undergraduate degree to meet admission requirements.

Professional Development: Participants receive a certificate of completion showing 30 Professional Development hours after successfully completing the class.

"This is how we find children – with intelligence more acute, logic more keen, observing powers more alert, moral sensibilities more quick, love and faith and hope more abounding; in fact, in all points as we are, only more so; but absolutely ignorant of the world and its belongings, of us and our ways, and, above all, of how to control and direct and manifest the infinite possibilities with which they are born."

~ Charlotte Mason, Parents and Children, p. 253