Tracing Crete through the Ages

Description

Tracing Crete Through The Ages explores the Minoan, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian history and culture of Western Crete, and offers aspiring educators the relevant tools to incorporate outdoor learning into their teaching and curriculum planning.
The purpose of this course is to explore, contact and live the places that gave birth to the great Cretan civilization that dominated the South East Mediterranean basin. Several places of interest and worship will be thoroughly studied on- and off-site (including but not limited to archaeological sites, monuments, temples, monasteries, churches and burial sites), thus providing participants with invaluable knowledge and firsthand experience of how Cretan history unfolded and Cretan culture was shaped.
A great number of archaeological sites and byzantine and venetian monuments will be visited and studied, all offering a unique stage to experientially explore how Crete evolved through the ages.
The Course takes a multi-disciplinary approach in exploring Minoan, Roman, Byzantine and Venetian history and culture of Western Crete, and aims to provide participants with the relevant tools to educate and be educated on the origins classical culture and education across the curriculum. Designed to offer both indoor and outdoor learning experiences, the Course aims to provide participants with some understanding of the benefits, processes, and skills related to learning in the outdoors, without, though, training them as outdoor specialists.

Carefully designed experiential learning, teaching in context, and on- and off-site exercises will bring all visited sites and destinations in life before the participants and thus help them better understand, and crucially teach, Cretan history and culture, and Greek mythology.
Aspects of the course content are driven by the participants’ unfolding curiosity about the history, geography, culture, and religion of the visited and thoroughly studied destinations and sites.

Teaching

• A variety of teaching and learning approaches will be used, including but not limited to lectures, discussion seminars, workshop tasks, and outdoor activities, designed and delivered by the world acclaimed and highly specialized academic faculty of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
• The course will conclude with student-led outdoor teaching sessions.
• Even though the Course is designed to be taught primarily by the Course Organizer, other experts may occasionally contribute to onsite teaching.
• Teaching contact time is scheduled at 64 hours over 10 days comprising but not restricted to practical sessions, lectures, and workshops.
• Participants are expected to complete relevant readings and assignments in their own free study time.
• Participants will spend a considerable amount of time learning, exploring, and teaching indoors and outdoors in both enclosed areas and green-space. Appropriate clothing and footwear is crucial.
• The ways in which theory and policy inform practice is a dominant theme of the course. This is reflected in the teaching and, in particular, the three forms of assessment – all of which are inter-linked.
• The closing teaching session and essay at the end of the Course require participants to refer to available literature on indoor and outdoor learning, as well as national/state education policy documents.

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their teaching assignment, pamphlet and written assignment with their course instructor and peers during formative feedforward tutorials.

Assessment

• Educational pamphlet (30%): Participants shall design and produce a 2-page educational pamphlet on an educational aspect of the Course (1000 words equivalent)
• Outdoor teaching session (30%): In pairs, Participants shall plan, facilitate and evaluate a short outdoor lesson (accompanied by a lesson plan and risk management plan; 1000 words equivalent)
• Essay (40%): Participants will deliver an academic paper outlining the theoretical underpinning of the lesson and a critical reflection on the teaching performance (1500 words).

Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their teaching assignment, pamphlet and written assignment with their course instructor and peers during formative feedforward tutorials.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Course, Participants will have acquired:

• An understanding of the broad concepts that underpin curricular outdoor learning,
• Detailed knowledge on multi-era Cretan monuments and a good understanding of their architecture,
• A deep understanding of Cretan religious tradition and Orthodox Christianity,
• Detailed knowledge and deep understanding of the different architectural styles of the Christian Orthodox churches,
• An appreciation for the liturgical life of Christian Orthodox Church,
• The ability to search for, evaluate and use information to develop their knowledge and understanding,
• An appreciation for new ideas, methods and ways of thinking,
• The ability to take responsibility for their own learning, and a commitment to continuous reflection, self-evaluation and self-improvement,
• The ability to sustain intellectual interest and be academically curious,
• The ability to effectively use oral, written, and visual means to critique, negotiate, create, and communicate their understanding, and
• The flexibility to transfer their knowledge, learning, skills, and abilities from one context to another.

Fees

The Course Fee is all inclusive and covers tuition costs, entrance fees to all venues, accommodation, full board and all transfers for the entire duration of the Course.
Full information on the Course itinerary, destinations and accommodation options can be found here.
A 20% deposit per Participant is required upon registration and no latter than 12 weeks before the Course starts. The deposit will be reclaimed towards the total Course Fee.
Please note that study in Greece may incur additional costs e.g. visa application fees.
Early bird rates, as well as special rates for academics of valued partner institutions apply (faculty members, researchers, students).

DAY 1 WELCOME

• Chania Old Town
• Chania

DAY 2 INTRODUCTION TO CRETAN HISTORY I

• Kissamos Archaeological Museum
• Kydonia Minoan Settlement
• Aptera Archaeological Site
• Chania Archaeological Museum
• Chania

DAY 3 INTRODUCTION TO CRETAN HISTORY II

• Venetia Neoria of Chania
• Maritime Museum of Chania
• Chania Old Town
• Chania

DAY 4 BYZANTINE CHANIA

• Chania
• Venetian Port
• Church of St. Salvatore
• Cathedral of Mother Mary’s Presentation
• Catholic Church of the Dormition
• Church of St. Francis
• Church of St. Nichola
• Old Cathedral of St. Anargyri
• Church of St. Magdalene
• Church of the Annanciation
• Chryssopigi Monastery

DAY 5 ASCETIC TRADITION I

• Chania
• St. John the Baptist Monastery
• Trazagola Holy Trinity Monastery
• Guverneto Monastery
• St. John the Merciful Monastery\

DAY 6 ASCETIC TRADITION II

• Chania
• Eleftherna
• Kyriana
• Pangalochori Village
• Chromonastiri Village
• Roussospiti Village
• Arkadi Monastery
• Church of the Savior
• Church of the Dormition of Mother Mary
• Church of St. Eftychios
• Church of Panagia Kera
• Church of Virgin Mary
• Arsaniou Monastery
• City of Rethymnon

DAY 7 WESTERN CRETE

• Chania
• Gramvousa Island
• Venetian Fortress of Gramvousa
• Balos Lagoon
• Kolymbari Vilage

DAY 8 SAMARIA GORGE

• Chania
• Samaria Gorge
• Sfakia

DAY 9 INTRODUCTION TO CRETAN HISTORY III

• Chania
• Chania Market
• Chalepa Museum
• Akrotiri - Venizelos’ Family Graves
• Museum of Typography
• Agia
• Meskla
  Therissos

DAY 10 DEPARTURE

We can customize your Short Course any way you want to ensure a most memorable Greek adventure! 
Do not hesitate to request more information by dropping us a line here.