Intellectual Leadership for Change and Transformation in (N)ature
A Free Sample Learning Experience from CATLAN
CATLAN was founded to support the development of (A)lternative (T)hought and (A)ction. Our focus is on the creation of more positive social and economic relationships between humans within (N)ature.
The organisation provides residential and non-residential opportunities for creative thinkers, including business leaders, academics, musicians, artists and inventors etc., to work in a globally unique setting, part of a transdisciplinary community.
Following an authetic practice of research-led education, the CATLAN community then offers a range of learning opportunities for high school and university students, as well as postgraduate and Executive level learners, from the public, private and third sectors.
The below sample class reflects learning offered as part of the Intellectual Leadership for Change and Transformation in Nature program.
It is aimed at highly competent Undergraduate, but mostly Postgraduate / Executive level learners.
Moreover, it provides the practical outcome of a Personal Methodology for Change and Transformation, so learning is guaranteed to be applied to any context that matters to you as a learner.
Unit 1: Towards a Philosophy of Intellectual Leadership
Introduction [3 minutes read]
This class is led by CATLAN’s Chair of Teaching and Learning, Dr Alastair Smith.
Invitations to develop “Intellectual Leadership” rarely begin with any foundational discussion of Philosophy. At CATLAN we aspire to provide an (A)lternative to this because we believe a different approach is essential. After all, the Greek origin of Philosophy (“philein sophia”) means “lover of wisdom” and we contend that any effective leadership requires much more than knowing lots about something; leadership must come from a profound “love of knowledge” which is something much more complex and intellectually in-depth. Read more about our argument, here.
As such, the Learning Outcomes for this unit cluster around the development a formal philosophically grounded approach to “intellectual leadership”. We will discuss the foundational issues of human intellectual “excellence” as a requirement for and characteristics of effective leaders, as well as how such excellence might be identified and related to human “pride”. The first unit is also partly diagnostic and contains foundational skill development opportunities valuable in practice and further learning.
There are three components to the unit’s learning that must be completed in order: 1) core reading,
2) written reflections on our core reading 3) online tutorial with the lead academic.
You should read all three Tasks before commencing the first.
All CATALN’s learning activities have a recommended / expected completion time. These have been calculated based on the complexity and planned outcomes, as well as to be appropriately inclusive. Try to stick to these timings as you work through the learning. If you are taking longer, you might be working harder than the design requires. Alternatively, perhaps we can identify an opportunity for skill development (e.g. reading for meaning, as opposed to detail). If you are completing the task more rapidly, you might be missing important learning, or you might be adept at the task in terms of skills required (e.g. competent touch typing). Use the expected times to constantly reflect on your learning and other skills. We might have also miscalculated; let us know if you think this is the case by highlighting the suggested time and leaving a comment.
Task 1: Core Reading [3 hours]
Our first reading is chosen to provide foundational engagement with the development of a formal, philosophically grounded approach to intellectual leadership.
More specifically this reading promotes active thought about what it might mean to be an intellectual leader: how we define this, as well as track and evaluate our success at such an endeavour. The proposals are philosophical not technical. However, the text is highly accessible and intentionally provocative.
The selected text is:
Taylor, R (1996). Restoring Pride: The Lost Virtual of Our Age. READ ONLY, p. 15–135. [Open in Google Drive]. Read the text for overall meaning; it’s preferable not to make notes as you work through.
The link opens the PDF document in Google drive in Comment Mode. This means any annotations you make can be seen by other learners, but they will be anonymous. Consider using this opportunity to interact: post questions that arise, thoughts and reflections that occur, and be proactive in engaging with other such provocations. Knowledge creation is fundamentally social: let’s make the most of the basic technologies we have to enhance our opportunities.
Task 2: Reflective Exercises [1 hour, 40 minutes]
Dialogical Reflections [2 minutes + 15 minutes]
The last activity is optional. Here you can discuss the reading, your written responses and wider thinking with the tutor. This session is not about evaluating your interpretations against correct answers, but reinforcing your learning and developing your thinking further through conversation. To take advantage of this opportunity please complete the details below [2 mins]. The tutor will contact you for a 15 minute online discussion at a time that suits you.
If you would like to take your learning further, there will be additional time to also discuss opportunities to enrol in more classes from this course.
Other CATALN pages of interest:
