What you'll learn
- How to find purpose in life
- Just maybe, death is not as frightening as first thought
- How to leave a legacy behind
- The benefits of having purpose.
Requirements
- A quiet room, somewhere where you can really focus and just...think
- Perhaps a notepad
- Time. This is not a course to be rushed
Description
This is a course with two Instructors:
Peter Thomas - pre-2017
Chris Sivewright - post-2017
The reasons are clear in the Introduction.
There are five sections to this course:
Purpose in Life
How much time left?
Thinking about Death
How carefully should we live our lives?
Is there life after death?
How is the course organised?
As per the five sections above but, in addition to lectures by Peter there are:
Many references to news articles from 2024 and before
Various Youtube clips of films that Peter acted in
Homework questions
References to studies – 2024 and before
Some thought experiments
So, what makes this course different to others about finding purpose in life?
There are many resources and homework questions. these are linked to articles and websites. They are form discussion in the Q/A. many of the resources are current as at mid-2024.
To illustrate the points made in lectures, Peter (the Instructor) refers to films he has appeared in. This makes the course very personal - and unique. Clips from the films are shown.
The emphasis is on participation. You are shown lectures and given links to resources. BUT questions are asked about these resources and the Q/A - which doubles as a forum for discussion -0mis used to discuss and explore a) what you have learnt but b) also what your thoughts are about the points made. In this sense the Q/A is an integral part of the course.
Who this course is for:
- All those who seek purpose in life
- Anyone who is already or will become, a death doula
- Anyone seeking direction
- All who have time to ponder, to reflect
Instructors
- 4.5 Instructor Rating
- 10,366 Reviews
- 252,057 Students
- 144 Courses
Studied at:
· University of Oxford (Philosophy and Economics)
· Oxford Brookes (Teacher training)
· University of Glamorgan (Business and Economics)
Qualifications
· Professional qualifications at Masters level
· Business and Economics degree
· Examiner for four major examining boards, at ‘O’ and ‘A’ level.
· Three teaching diplomas plus CELTA
· Qualified fitness trainer
Key academic positions held:
· Principal Oxford School of Learning
· Director of Studies: St Joseph’s Hall, Oxford
· Head of Economics: Cherwell Tutors
· Head of Business and Economics: Pipers Corner School, Buckingham
· Founder: Almost Random Theatre
I have experience in four main areas:
a. Teaching (40+ years of face-to-face experience)
b. Running businesses and conferences
c. Acting in films and theatre
d. Volunteering for a number of charities
Teaching/Instructor experience
Face-to-face: MBA students on a 1-1 basis; at University; Grammar, Comprehensive and F.E. College. This has included being Principal, Director of Studies; Head of Business and Head of Economics at various times in the past 40 years!
I have taught: Economics, Business, Sociology, Politics, English Literature and Psychology.
I have also run seminars for Teachers of |Psychology, Sociology, Businessman Economics.
I have run Therapeutic Art groups at Care Homes.
The success of my Business and Economics students has been featured in several newspapers plus I have appeared on BBC.
Running businesses and conferences.
I started Oxford School of Learning in the 1980s. From the college came Marketing Education Services, OSL Training and Saturday tutors.
In 201 I started Almost Random Theatre and have taken actors to Poland and the Czech Republic as well as running Drama days at schools.
Writing: my plays are sold to schools; I have 100+ books on Amazon; I used to write a regular column for The Guardian and BBC Bitesize.
Acting in films and theatre
My plays are sold to schools. I have performed at Oxford and Brighton Fringes as well as appearing in 100+ films, national TV advertising campaigns and role-played a hospital patient for Buckingham University’s medical degree students.
Volunteering
I have worked/am still working for Care Homes, Multiple Sclerosis Society, Dystonia Society, Stroke Association, Stroke Club, Talkback, Oxford Recovery College, Tandem, Age UK and Sport in Mind. I’ve given my tutorial fees to the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Dystonia Society. I currently have a GoFundMe page to help lonely elderly people.
- 4.4 Instructor Rating
- 5,502 Reviews
- 143,958 Students
- 85 Courses
Almost Random Theatre is a theatre company started in 2012. After putting on plays at Oxford and Brighton fringes, taking actors to Poland and Czech Republic, selling plays to schools, putting on many short plays in Oxford, visiting 60+ schools and running 'drama days' it was decided to...slow down.
The theatre's main contribution now is helping with numerous Art Therapy courses.