Helping College Students Find Purpose

Helping College Students Find Purpose Today's college students are demanding that their educational experiences address the core questions of meaning and purpose. . . What does it mean to be successful? How will I know what type of career is best for me? Why do I hurt so much when a relationship ends? Why do innocent people have to suffer? Faculty and administrators are in the unique position to make special contributions to their students' search for meaning, and when they work together, everyone on a college campus benefits. Helping College Students Find Purpose provides a theory-to-practice model of meaning-making that enables the entire campus community to participate in the process. Based on a practical how-to approach, the authors outline a series of concrete steps for applying the theory and practice of meaning-making to teaching, leading, administering, and advising. Filled with real-life vignettes, this guidebook includes the background knowledge and proven tools that will help faculty and administrators act as effective mentors to students. While there is no single solution that can meet everyone's needs, the authors provide a series of classroom and cross-campus strategies that are specifically designed to help students successfully navigate their diverse meaning-making activities and effectively enhance their quest for meaning.

Helping College Students Find PurposeToday's college students are demanding that their educational experiences address the core questions of meaning and purpose. . . What does it mean to be successful? How will I know what type of career is best for me? Why do I hurt so much when a relationship ends? Why do innocent people have to suffer?Faculty and administrators are in the unique position to make special contributions to their students' search for meaning, and when they work together, everyone on a college campus benefits. Helping College Students Find Purpose provides a theory-to-practice model of meaning-making that enables the entire campus community to participate in the process. Based on a practical how-to approach, the authors outline a series of concrete steps for applying the theory and practice of meaning-making to teaching, leading, administering, and advising.Filled with real-life vignettes, this guidebook includes the background knowledge and proven tools that will help faculty and administrators act as effective mentors to students. While there is no single solution that can meet everyone's needs, the authors provide a series of classroom and cross-campus strategies that are specifically designed to help students successfully navigate their diverse meaning-making activities and effectively enhance their quest for meaning.

Foreword viiPreface xiiiAbout the Authors xxxiPart I: Making Meaning in the Quarterlife 11. Is the Quarterlife Generation Ready for Meaning-Making? 32. Exploring the Meaning of Meaning: Existentialism and Postmodernism 273. Finding Meaning in Religion and Spirituality: Why Can't My Faith Be Cool? 51Part II: Putting Meaning-Making to Work: Tools of the Trade 854. A Pedagogy of Constructivism: Deep-Meaning Learning 875. Make Room for Meaning: Practical Advice 1276. The Ethics of Meaning-Making 1617. Meaning Maxims for Both Inside and Outside the Classroom 179Part III: Our Own Attempts to Make Meaning 2038. Two Personal Reflections for Our Readers 205Resources for Meaning-Making Educators 237Resource A: Four Therapeutic Approaches to Meaning-Making 239Resource B: Crossover Pedagogy 277References 299Index 309