Sentipensante Pedagogy was formally introduced with the publication of Rendón's book, Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy: Educating for Wholeness, Social Justice and Liberation (Stylus Press, 2009). The term, Sentipensante, originated from the research of Columbian sociologist and developer of participatory action research, Orlando Fals Borda. Eduardo Galeano, employs the term in The Book of Embraces. In a YouTube video, Fals Borda discusses his work with the fishermen of the Columbian coast and how they referred to themselves as sentipensantes, people able to master simultaneous use of two forms of intelligence: sensory and intellectual knowing.

Sentipensante pedagogy is a culturally-validating, deep learning experience that addresses the harmonic balance between intellectual, social, emotional and inner-life skill development. The pedagogy also connects the learning experience to issues of equity and justice. To foster deep learning, illuminative learning tools/prácticas de conocimiento are employed to open the senses. Examples include: Periods of silence, music, poetry, arts-based projects, testimonios, socially-driven art and photography, ritual, and cultural immersions, among others.

Please click on the titles below to explore:

• Embracing Contemplative Pedagogy in a Culturally Diverse Classroom, co-authored with Vijay Kanagala
• Academics of the Heart: Maintaining Body, Soul, and Spirit
• Cultivating Una Persona Educada: A Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Vision of Education
• Birthing Internal Images: Employing the Cajita Project as a Contemplative Activity in a College Classroom, co-authored with Vijay Kanagala
• An essay on Sentipensante Pedagogy in The National Teaching & Learning Forum

ALSO NOTE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF YOUTUBE VIDEOS FEATURING MY WORK:

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=laura+rendon