Introduction to Phenomenology of Practice: Research and Writing
Course Terms of Enrolment and Participation
Phenomenology of Practice Project (PoPP)
1. Purpose and Nature of the Course
The Introduction to Phenomenology of Practice: Research and Writing course offers an opportunity for graduate students, researchers, educators, and others interested in exploring phenomenological inquiry.
The course introduces participants to the philosophical orientations, methodological practices, and forms of writing associated with phenomenology of practice. Through reading, conversation, reflection, and writing, participants are invited to develop greater attentiveness to lived experience and to explore how phenomenological meaning may be brought into language.
The course is offered independently through the Phenomenology of Practice Project (PoPP). It is not affiliated with a university, does not carry academic credit, and does not provide professional accreditation or formal research-methodology certification.
2. Course Duration and Learning Format
The course takes place over twelve weeks and combines independent study with opportunities for shared discussion and guidance.
The learning experience includes:
Access to course readings, learning resources, and activities through the Moodle online learning platform.
Asynchronous discussion and writing activities that participants may undertake within the designated course periods.
Four scheduled live online sessions, ordinarily held near the end of Weeks 2, 4, 7, and 10.
Opportunities to explore foundational phenomenological texts, exemplary phenomenological writing, and the development of participants' own inquiries.
Individualized formative feedback on a concluding exploratory piece of phenomenological writing.
The course is designed to accommodate participants living in different time zones and managing academic, professional, and personal responsibilities. Live meeting times will be arranged with consideration for participants' locations, although it may not be possible to accommodate every preference.
The course schedule, meeting dates, and any significant changes will be communicated to participants in advance.
3. Participation and the Learning Experience
Phenomenological inquiry requires time, patience, attentiveness, and a willingness to revisit familiar experiences in unfamiliar ways.
Participants are encouraged to engage regularly with the readings, writing invitations, and discussion activities, while recognizing that the demands of professional and personal life may affect the rhythm of their participation.
The course does not require participants to demonstrate mastery of phenomenology or produce a polished research paper. Rather, it offers an introduction to ways of questioning, reading, reflecting, and writing phenomenologically.
There are no letter grades, numerical assessments, or formal examinations.
Participants are expected to approach the learning activities in good faith, contribute respectfully to discussions, and take responsibility for their own engagement with the course.
4. Concluding Writing and Certificate of Completion
Toward the conclusion of the course, participants will be invited to submit an exploratory piece of phenomenological writing that demonstrates some emerging phenomenological qualities.
There is no prescribed minimum page or word count. The writing may remain provisional and exploratory, reflecting the participant's developing understanding and engagement with a phenomenon.
The instructor will provide individualized formative feedback, including observations and suggestions for continuing the inquiry.
Participants who demonstrate sustained and meaningful engagement with the course activities, including the concluding writing invitation, will receive a PoPP Certificate of Completion.
The certificate recognizes participation in an introductory learning experience. It does not certify mastery of phenomenological research, confer academic credit, or represent professional accreditation.
5. Live Sessions and Recordings
The four scheduled online sessions provide opportunities for conversation, questions, discussion of readings, and reflection on participants' developing writing.
These sessions will ordinarily be recorded to allow enrolled participants who cannot attend to review the discussions.
Participants will be informed when recording begins. They may choose to keep their cameras off and are not required to disclose personal experiences or contribute verbally to every discussion.
Participants who prefer not to have their contributions recorded may raise questions or share reflections through alternative course channels, including written discussion or correspondence with the instructor.
Recordings will be made available only to participants enrolled in the course and will not be publicly distributed or used for promotional purposes without separate express permission.
Participants must not independently record, download for redistribution, publish, or share course recordings or other participants' contributions without appropriate permission.
6. Respectful Participation and Confidentiality
The course seeks to foster a respectful and supportive learning environment in which participants may explore questions, uncertainties, and emerging interpretations.
Phenomenological inquiry sometimes draws upon personal or professionally sensitive experiences. Participants are encouraged to exercise discretion in deciding what they share and to respect the privacy of others.
No participant is required to disclose intimate personal information or experiences.
Participants agree not to share identifiable personal information, unpublished writing, or sensitive contributions made by others in the course without their permission.
The instructor will make reasonable efforts to support a collegial and respectful learning environment. Conduct that seriously disrupts the learning community, violates others' privacy, or involves harassment or discrimination may result in appropriate intervention, including removal from the course where necessary.
Any decision to remove a participant will take account of the circumstances, applicable law, and any refund obligations.
7. Fees and Payment
The fee for the twelve-week Introduction to Phenomenology of Practice: Research and Writing course is CAD $425.
A limited number of reduced-fee places may be available at CAD $275 for participants whose financial circumstances would otherwise make participation difficult. These arrangements may be discussed confidentially before enrolment.
Participants may pay the course fee in full or, by prior agreement, in two instalments. The amount and due date of each instalment will be confirmed before enrolment.
The course fee includes access to the twelve-week learning experience, course resources and activities, four scheduled online sessions, individualized formative feedback on the concluding exploratory writing, and a PoPP Certificate of Completion for participants who meet the stated engagement expectations.
Any applicable taxes will be identified before payment.
Enrolment is confirmed once the agreed registration and initial payment requirements have been completed.
The withdrawal and refund provisions outlined in Section 8 apply to the total agreed course fee, including where instalment payments have been arranged.
8. Course Withdrawal and Refunds
PoPP courses are offered to small groups, with limited enrolment. Registration reserves a place in the course and contributes to the planning, preparation, and instructional commitments involved in providing the learning experience.
Participants who wish to withdraw may do so by notifying PoPP in writing. Refunds will ordinarily be provided according to the following schedule:
Before the course begins: Full refund of course fees paid.
During the first course week: 75% refund.
During the second or third course week: 50% refund.
After the end of the third course week: No refund ordinarily available.
The date on which the written withdrawal request is received will determine the applicable refund period.
Participants are encouraged to consider whether they can devote sufficient time to the readings, writing activities, and discussions. The course provides flexibility through asynchronous learning and access to recordings of scheduled online sessions.
Withdrawal because of competing professional or personal commitments, missed sessions, limited participation, or a change in interest will ordinarily be governed by the refund schedule above.
Non-attendance or non-participation does not automatically constitute withdrawal or entitle a participant to a refund.
Extenuating Circumstances
PoPP recognizes that serious and unforeseen circumstances may prevent a participant from continuing. These may include significant illness, bereavement, family emergencies, or other exceptional situations beyond the participant's reasonable control.
Requests for exceptions to the normal refund schedule will be considered individually, with sensitivity to the circumstances involved. Depending on the situation, an additional partial or full refund may be offered.
Participants will not ordinarily be expected to disclose detailed personal or medical information when requesting consideration.
Course Cancellation or Postponement
If PoPP cancels a course before it begins, participants will receive a full refund. If a course is postponed, participants may accept the revised dates or request a full refund.
If PoPP is unable to complete a course already underway, an appropriate refund will be provided for the portion of the course not delivered.
This policy is subject to applicable consumer protection legislation and does not limit participants' statutory rights.
9. Privacy and Retention of Course Materials
PoPP will collect and use participant information only as reasonably necessary to administer the course, communicate with participants, facilitate learning activities, and meet applicable legal and financial obligations.
Course materials may include discussion contributions, submitted writing, feedback, uploaded documents, and recordings of live sessions.
Access to participant-generated materials and recordings will be restricted to those for whom access is necessary or appropriate within the course.
Course content and participant materials held within the learning platform will be deleted within 30 days after the final course session, including discussion posts, submitted assignments, feedback, uploaded files, and session recordings under PoPP's control.
Participants will be advised to download copies of their own writing, feedback, and any other materials they wish to retain before this period expires.
Information retained in platform backups may remain subject to the service provider's backup and deletion practices. Administrative and financial records required for legal or tax purposes may be retained separately.
PoPP will take reasonable steps to protect participant information and will not use participants' writing or personal contributions for publication, research, or promotional purposes without separate permission.
10. Intellectual Property and Use of Course Materials
Participants retain ownership of their original writing and other intellectual contributions.
Course readings, instructional materials, presentations, and resources provided through PoPP remain subject to the copyright and licensing conditions applicable to those materials.
Participants may use course resources for their own learning and research, subject to applicable copyright permissions. They may not reproduce, redistribute, or publicly post restricted course materials without authorization.
Participants are expected to respect the intellectual contributions and unpublished work of fellow participants.
11. Technical Access and Responsibilities
Participants are responsible for maintaining reasonable access to the internet and a device capable of using the Moodle learning platform and participating in online meetings.
Basic technical guidance will be provided where possible, but PoPP cannot guarantee uninterrupted access to third-party platforms or services.
Where significant technical difficulties affect course delivery, reasonable efforts will be made to restore access, provide alternative arrangements, or adjust relevant deadlines.
12. Shared Understanding
The course is grounded in a shared commitment to thoughtful inquiry, respectful conversation, and the developing practice of phenomenological reading and writing.
PoPP undertakes to provide the learning opportunities, resources, facilitation, and feedback described in the course information.
Participants undertake to engage with the course in ways appropriate to their circumstances, to respect the contributions of others, and to take responsibility for their own learning.
Phenomenological understanding does not necessarily develop in a linear or predictable manner. The course invites participants to remain open to uncertainty, to revisit their assumptions, and to attend patiently to the meanings of lived experience.
By enrolling, participants acknowledge that they have read and understood these Course Terms of Enrolment and Participation and agree to the arrangements described above.