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Become an exceptionally effective life-long learner.

VCoL in Practice*

ViP registration is now open!

ViP is a course for adults who want to accelerate learning from everyday experience. It equips participants with a set of powerful skills that support optimal learning & development.

In ViP you'll build skills for learning the way human brains are designed to learn with a method called micro-VCoLing. This way of learning is the most efficient way to build the skills and habits we all need to thrive in a complex and rapidly changing world.

*ViP is a prerequisite for admission into Lectica's accreditation courses.


Why learn to micro-VCoL?

People who habitually micro-VCoL...

  • think better (because they develop more integrated and complex knowledge networks than those who don't),
  • develop better, faster, and further than those who don't,
  • are more likely to enjoy learning than those who don't,
  • spend more time in flow than those who don't, and
  • develop more agile, adaptive minds than those who don't.

Why are these things important?

  • They bring satisfaction—even happiness.
  • They build competence.
  • They make it easier to achieve our dreams and goals.
  • They turn us into better decision-makers.
  • They help us adapt to change and recover faster from setbacks!

ViP graduates are saying...

"Before ViP, I thought learning was a tedious necessity. Now I see it as a kind of pleasurable reflective awareness."

"I love the focus on everyday real-world experiences. It's so practical."

"I am in bliss with a new way to look at learning, and how to think differently. I swear I feel my mind reshaping itself."

"Once you learn to micro-VCoL, learning becomes a kind of continuous pleasure. I wouldn't say it's euphoric, more of a feeling of satisfaction mixed with curiosity."


ViP offerings

ViP is a minimally disruptive 6-week course that helps participants build a set of skills for micro-VCoLing. MicroVCoLing is a practice that makes it possible to learn as you engage in everyday activities. You will build Micro-VCoLing skills by engaging in a series of increasingly sophisticated in-the-moment" learning activities. You can learn more about micro-VCoLing by reading the article, VCoL in action: The many benefits of micro-VCoLing.

ViP for individuals

We offer ViP several times through the year on a rotating schedule.  Fill in the form at the bottom of the page if you are interested in attending ViP.

ViP for groups of all kinds

Teams, families, & friends who take ViP together will enjoy the additional learning benefit of frequent opportunities to share VCoLing experiences. If the members of your group are interested in taking ViP together, fill in the form at the bottom of the page and ask for information about group participation and rates.


Learning goals

Active participants in ViP will...

  1. Build basic micro-VCoLing skills (described below).
  2. Begin the process of habituating micro-VCoLing—to the point where it requires less and less conscious mental energy.

Lectical Assessment

Participants will take a Lectical Assessment and receive a resource-rich report that will support months of high impact micro-VCoLing.

You can view a sample report by logging into our site as username: dorothytoto, and password: yellowbrickroad.


Classroom activities

Meeting 1: Introduction to micro-VCoLing

In week 1, you'll learn about the Virtuous Cycle of Learning, where it comes from, and how to put micro-VCoLs to work in daily practice.

Meetings 2–5

During weeks 2–5, you will spend the time between meetings practicing specific micro-VCoLing skills. During meetings, ViP facilitators will host guided discussions. We will focus on core VCoLing skills, including:

  • In-the-moment awareness
  • Working with an active observer
  • Skill awareness
  • Gap awareness
  • Goldilocks-Zone awareness
  • Emulation
  • Iterative goal setting
  • Skill mapping

You'll learn the most basic micro-VCoLing skills by working through a 3-part micro-VCoL Starter Set. Dr. Dawson has provided a detailed description and a starter set example in her article, VCoL in action, the micro-VCoL starter set.

As noted above, you will also be taking a Lectical Assessment, which will equip you with several micro-VCoLs designed to help you continue habituating micro-VCoLing while learning critical life skills.

Meeting 6: Final meeting

In the final VCoL meeting, participants will come together (1) for a Lectical Assessment debrief, (2) to build skills for identifying skills that can be practiced in real-time, and (3) to celebrate their transformation into joyful and efficient lifelong learners.

More about VCoLs and VCoLing

 


Registration

Rates

$799 per person

(Contact us to inquire about scholarships for K-12 educators.)

Refund & transfer policies

Prior to the registration deadline, we will refund 85% of your payment on request.

After the registration deadline, no refunds are available, but you will be given 2 years to complete your course by transferring to a later offering. When you transfer, you will be required to pay a processing fee equal to 15% of the course fee being charged at that time.

Participation requirements

This is a practice-based course. It only works when every registrant participates fully. Prior to making a decision to participate in ViP, make sure that you have the time to do the work and are committed to full participation. This means attending every meeting and completing all pre-work, including daily micro-VCoLing practice. If you miss more than one meeting or appear to be neglecting your pre-work, we will ask you to take the course at another time.

Registration details

The next ViP cohorts begin the second week of September, 2023, meeting weekly at either 10:00 am on Mondays or 5:00 pm on Wednesdays. (All dates are New York time.)

  • Meeting 1: A two-hour opening session on Monday September 11th or Wednesday September 13th
  • Meetings 2–5: Four weekly 1.5-hour collaborative learning sessions
  • Meeting 6: A two-hour closing session on Monday October 16th or Wednesday October 18th

Registration closes on Wednesday August 30th, 2023.

Course fee: Early-bird registration of $719 until July 31st, 2023, after that $799 US. 

Apply for ViP

If you're interested in participating or learning more, please fill out the following form:

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Selected funders

IES (US Department of Education)

The Spencer Foundation

NIH

Dr. Sharon Solloway

The Simpson Foundation

The Leopold Foundation

Donor list

Selected clients

Glastonbury School District, CT

The Ross School

Rainbow Community School

The Study School

Long Trail School

The US Naval Academy

The City of Edmonton, Alberta

The US Federal Government

Advisory Board

Antonio Battro, MD, Ph.D., One Laptop Per Child

Marc Schwartz, Ph.D. and former high school teacher, University of Texas at Arlington

Mary Helen Immordino-Yang, Ed.D., University of Southern California

Willis Overton, Ph.D., Temple University, Emeritus