The courses now require a minimum cohort of at least seven people, at least one of whom is comfortable facilitating group exercises. That person (or persons) will run the sandbox sessions, meetings in which students experience PNI techniques and exercises from a participant's point of view (before facilitating similar sessions themselves). If everyone in your group has had facilitation experience, you can take turns running the sandbox sessions.
I have also created a new "Prelude" course that (at 4 weeks) is much shorter than the I-level (17 weeks) and II-level (21 weeks) courses. This brief course does require students to carry out some outside-of-class activities, so it still - barely - counts as a practicum course. But it saves a lot of time by having the entire course cohort collaborate on one shared project, one with a fixed plan on a fixed topic. If the longer courses are out of the question for you, the prelude may be just what you need.
In transitioning these course materials, I have taken care to leave the door open (just a bit) to the possibility of generating some more return on my two-year investment in building the courses. Anyone can take any of the PNI Practicum courses for free. However, groups who want some guidance and support while they take a PNI Practicum course can contact me to see if I am available for bespoke consulting. If you are interested in this option, send me a note at cfkurtz@cfkurtz.com.
Over the past few months, I have spent some time looking for a full-time job, as I said I was planning to do in my previous blog post. I was recently asked to do some consulting work that will keep me busy for the next few months. As I work on that project, I will continue my job search. So far I have noticed that I am most drawn to work that has something to do with ecology and the environment. The idea of coming full circle and applying my decades of experience with story work to my original passion for ecology is an appealing prospect. I am also interested in work that has to do with empowerment and conflict resolution. If you have any suggestions, I would appreciate hearing from you.
