faq
question:
What is the difference between the "Course" and a "Conference"?
answer:
There is one Biology of Story Course, which is a set of materials created by Professor Amnon Buchbinder. There are multiple conferences. Each conference is a group of people who are engaged in a process of online conversation while they individually work through the course materials.
question:
What is the difference between an "independent" and a "facilitated" conference?
answer:
Both conferences work with the same course materials but in different ways. The differences are discussed on the CONFERENCES> DESCRIPTIONS page and also listed on the REGISTER page.
question:
How many hours a week are required in a Facilitated Conference?
answer:
There are 16 modules in the course. Most conferences are 8 weeks long, completing two modules per week. Each module requires 3 - 4 hours to explore and discuss; thus 6 - 8 hours per week. If you have less time available some weeks, that won't be a problem.
question:
What times/days does the facilitated conference take place?
answer:
With the exception of the weekly teleconference, all activities in a Facilitated Conference are asynchronous, meaning you can conduct them at any time of the day or night you wish. In an 8-week conference you have a 3-day window to complete and discuss each module, with a teleconference once a week on the 7th day or as agreed upon by the participants.
question:
What happens if I miss a teleconference?
answer:
Teleconferences are recorded and may be reviewed by members of that conference.
question:
What if my availability is too inconsistent for a Facilitated Conference?
answer:
Consider an Independent Conference. An Independent Conference is open for 16 weeks, throughout which you have access to all materials and to online forums to discuss with other independent conferees at your own pace.
question:
What if I just want to take the course and not fuss with any of this conference stuff?
answer:
The course video materials are only available as part of a conference. We encourage you to try an Independent Conference. You can participate as much or as little as you want in the conversations and have full access to all the course material. You may also simply purchase the Biology of Story Book, which includes complete transcripts of the course materials, though obviously the audio-visual aspects of the lectures and interviews are not communicated in book form.
question:
Should I get the Book if I am joining an independent conference?
answer:
We strongly encourage all conferees to get and use The Biology of Story Book. While the video lectures are unpacked visually through all sorts of moving images, the book provides another layer of unpacking through extensive footnotes, links and references, as well as the opportunity to review individual passages.
question:
What if I register for a course but am then unable to take it?
answer:
See our refund policy on the Fine Print page. Note that you can also obtain a credit voucher for a future conference at any time as long as we can fill your original spot.
question:
What are the technical requirements to participate in a conference?
answer:
All conference activities can be completed on a computer, tablet, or phone. Your gear needs to be able to stream video; you'll want to make sure your internet browser is reasonably up-to-date.
question:
What happens if a conference fills up?
answer:
We keep a waitlist. We also try to add conferences when there is unmet demand.
question:
I've taken the course, but now I want more Biology of Story! Is there an advanced course?
answer:
We are developing a range of advanced materials and activities that we hope to make available through the Network for Living Stories, which we anticipate launching in January, 2018. We also encourage interested people with a Story-related practice in any field to consider becoming Conference Leaders, which is an excellent way to deepen your grasp of the powerful concepts presented in the Course. Contact us (see link in page footer) for more information.
question:
Why don't you have a conference for people working in XX story-related field?
answer:
We want to add it! Contact us for more info.
question:
Why doesn't your course only cost XX like XX website where I can choose from many courses by famous people?
answer:
It's true that there is an amazing range of self-directed learning materials available online; much of it is even free. But we felt it important to provide a framework for the kind of intensive, collaborative exploration that the curriculum of the Course calls for, and our fees are the minimum required to make this possible. And by the way, being famous doesn't make you a good teacher. This course was created by a Professor with 25 years of teaching experience, based on a career's worth of research and practice, and has already been publicly recognized as a ground-breaking achievement in online education.
question:
What's all this stuff about capital-S "Story?" How is that different from just "a story?"
answer:
It's similar to the difference between "a work of art" and "Art;" or between "a mathematical equation" and "Math," or even between "a living body" and "Life." The course examines "Story" as a set of special properties that each individual story partakes of. Watch the first lecture, available on the splash page of this website (via the logo link in top left corner).