Wellspring is a Buddhist heavy, but western medicine and science “involved”, site for personal transformation/ societal transformation. As we know, successful learning and eLearning involves various personal capabilities being activated, and grounded in a social learning construct. (SLC)  (see more links from their newsletters below)

Some of these learning factors that are tangentially included in conventional learning models, may in fact prove decisive in what results are obtained from various DLE.

We know there are a lot of elements that need to be addressed in a learners overall life in order to maximize learning capability. What is very challenging is how one might approach such an undertaking…that may involve a great deal of speculative and experimental and unconventional methodology.

Not to say it’s all unconventional, because we know, for example, that certain programs run by religious groups can be very successful in “getting people on the right track” and unleashing their positive potentials. Christian groups, especially but not only, the “born again” evangelicals, often specialize in taking the near basket case drug addicts and alcoholics, and doing a more or less complete makeover, including mental and emotional attitudes.

We know there’s a lot of momentum towards researching and deriving the best “tools” to address returning US Armed Forces veterans mental health problems, including but not only PTSD.

One of the Wellspring leaders at the above link is described as leading meditation classes for inmates at San Quentin.

Connecting learning methodology (DLE) with the overall “flourishing” of the individual and group involves finding what works in various circumstances. As much as we might be wary of “new age” and “self-help” excesses, it seems that DLE designers and creators will need to be capable of summoning the best from people, and doing it consistently.

Perhaps worth noting again here, that young man/boy on TED talk who is doing a DIY education using cloud tools…and how he included as one of his approaches being involved in a relationship with “God”. AA doesn’t use that word, so we might not need to either. “Higher Power” sounds a bit antiquated, but might have to do until we find another or better. Any thoughts/ suggestions?

AFAIK, the % of Americans who identify themselves as “atheists” runs less than 10%, although people will answer differently depending how the question is asked, and what “categories” they can choose.  Wikipedia uses an additional category of “irreligious”.

Maybe it’s possible to route around any issues of higher power terminology, and adherence to any of the major or minor world religions, and still activate the fullest capabilities of persons and groups. Worth looking into various pluses and minuses in these type equations.

Below are links to a few pdfs from Wellspring that talk about transformation, and include the concept of “neuroplasticity”…which is another way of saying, yes, you CAN change your mind… literally. Not sure how scientific that term might be, or not be.

The 7.2 and 7.3 below are excerpts from a book that talks about the 5 Cs of Coping…and exercises/ activities one can do to help change the mind/body habits to something that “works better”. Should a DLE incorporate some way of doing that as well?

If so, that certainly would add an additional dimension to address…one that would be fraught with perhaps hard to assess exercises, and hard to implement “holisitic” experiences. OTOH, the results might be quite powerful. I wonder what La Fe is doing with this sort of challenge; because I imagine they are attempting to address it in some way.

WiseBrain bulletin 7.2

WiseBrain bulletin 7.3

WiseBrain bulletin 7.4