Teacher Training
Competency Area |
Examples |
Minimum Contact Hours |
Required Contact (Classroom) Hours |
Mindfulness Studies |
Overview of the mindfulness field
History of mindfulness
Science of Mindfulness
Secularization of mindfulness
Complementary practices (eg. cultivation of positive emotions, relational mindfulness, inquiry, working with trauma etc.) |
100 |
Personal Practice Maturation and Development |
Ongoing mindfulness practice in group setting with instruction and community support
Personal exploration work of relevant issues to mindfulness facilitators such as presence and embodiment, cultivation of confidence |
50 |
Teaching Methodology, Training and Supervision |
Extensive Supervision, feedback and mentor interaction (including throrough review and assessment of in-class teaching experiences)
Community building practices
Feedback and peer support for facilitation practice
Group facilitation skills
Working with conflict in groups
Working with individuals |
100 |
Contemporary Mindfulness Applications |
Exploration of practical applications of mindfulness in any of the following areas or related others:
Education and youth
Academia
Workplace/business settings
Medicine
Psychology/Clinical Applications |
50 |
Cultural Competency |
Diversity issues in the mindfulness field
Working with diverse populations, cross-cultural issues
Professional Ethics for Teachers
Accessibility of language, and presentation, removing barriers |
80 |
Professional Development |
Bringing mindfulness into institutions
Financial issues in mindfulness facilitation as a career path
Marketing
Creating livelihood
Networking |
60 |
Required Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours |
Practicum / Field Work |
This component requires students to actively facilitate mindfulness in their work or volunteer setting |
60 |
TOTAL REQUIRED HOURS |
500 |
Recommended Additional Non-Contact (Non-Classroom) Hours |
Personal Practice Maturation and Development |
Personal daily practice
5-day or longer mindfulness meditation retreat with a qualified instructor
Attendance in related mindfulness classes |
250 |
Study |
Related reading, writing and academic work connected to the program |
100 |
Other Required Components |
Requirement |
Criteria |
Prerequisites for Program-entry |
Accepted students should have:
A minimum 2 years of regular mindfulness meditation practice Attended at least 1 mindfulness meditation retreat of a minimum of 5 days with a qualified instructor. More than 1 retreat is highly recommended. Attended a mindfulness course like Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), Mindful Awareness Practices (MAPs) or equivalent
|
Supervising Teachers |
Supervising teachers must have a minimum of 10 years of advanced mindfulness experience and personal practice, and 5 years of teaching experience as evidenced by verifiable personal statement on application.
|
Observation and Feedback Mechanisms |
Students teaching skills should be observed live or on video for at least 2×30 minutes and provided feedback in written and verbal form a minimum of two times. (Mid-program and final) |
Personal Interaction between student and supervising teacher |
Opportunities for personal contact between students and supervising teachers must be available in the form of individual or group teaching or mentoring sessions as demonstrated by program curricula. |