New Gestalten is an initiative designed to reintegrate the traditional educational process with a more holistic view upon life. Whether you are a student or laborer, or young or old, users of this wiki style website will be able to use the information presented here to gain a broader perspective on any subject (whether for work, study, or leisure). This is due to the unique presentation format, which combines two very different approaches.
A traditional outline, presenting work or fields of study in a subdivided list, is paired with exemplars of those occupations and disciplines, the people who have been significantly engaged with these bodies of work or knowledge and understand the larger phenomena to which they are addressed. This provides the benefit of a "dual description" that integrates both theory and experience.
The intention is to present this information in an easily digestible and condensed format. It is the first step (or one of the first steps) for a much longer journey of discovery. Once interest is sparked, readers are strongly encouraged to pursue a deeper understanding through other resources.
Locally available occupational or educational institutions may not offer a comprehensive selection of fields to explore. But they often do provide a valuable entry point from which to begin the journey to competency within any given field. However the approach used here, to quote Stephen Covey, is to "begin with the end in mind".
We begin with experience: What does the good life look like to you? This can be hard to put into words. Sometimes it's just an intuitive feeling. Move to theory: Take a look at the wiki outline. Does anything grab your attention? Back to experience: Look at the linked exemplars. Do any of their experiences resonate with you? And back to theory: Find the corresponding major course of study or training program offered locally. And once again experience: reintegrate what you are now learning with that first intuitive feeling for the whole.
[Stay tuned... under construction.]
