Millennial Learning: April 16-17, 2009
Doris G. Lauckner
Evening Session: Mindful Learning

Doris G. Lauckner is a graduate of Seton Hall University with a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. Dr. Lauckner serves as the Assistant Coordinator of the Master of Science in Community Counseling program at Wilmington University. Dr. Lauckner has been working in the field of mental health for more than 20 years. Presently she has a part-time private practice as a health psychologist providing consultations, assessments and counseling for patients in a large medical practice in Sussex County. Dr. Lauckner also specializes in conducting forensic evaluations for the Board of Parole, the Public Defender's Office and private attorneys. Dr. Lauckner has a special interest in meditation and mindfulness practices.

Mindful Learning

This session is being co-presented with James Walsh.

Mindfulness, the capacity of the mind to pay attention with intention, is generally considered a quality of meditation, usually within the context of religious systems. Indeed, the practice of mindfulness has been an essential aspect of Buddhist training for millennia. However, the empirical investigation of mindfulness by various branches of the social sciences in the past decade has shown that mindfulness is a trait characteristic that can be developed and enhanced through instruction. Outcome studies of mindfulness training have demonstrated that mindfulness can be taught and that its incorporation into one’s mindset has a variety of benefits, ranging from relief from neurotic disorders to improvement in immunological responsiveness.

Instructors who practice mindfulness have the opportunity to share the benefits of this ancient discipline with their students in a number of ways. The purpose of this session is to consider the impact of a mindfulness practice on the person of the instructor and his/her relationship to students and the learning process. Consideration will be given to helping students become more mindful within the context of classroom instruction. Drs. Lauckner and Walsh will lead a brief mindfulness exercise and will give information concerning ways to cultivate a deeper mindfulness practice to those with interest.