The Life + Death Education Framework: Proposition of a ‘Universal’ Framework for Implementation

Title
The Life + Death Education Framework: Proposition of a ‘Universal’ Framework for Implementation
Author(s)
Phan, Huy
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3066-4647
Email: hphan2@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:hphan2
Ngu, Bing
( author )
OrcID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9623-2938
Email: bngu@une.edu.au
UNE Id une-id:bngu
Hsu, Chao-Sheng
Chen, Si-Chi
Type of document
Journal Article
Language
en
Entity Type
Publication
Publisher
Sage Publications, Inc
Place of publication
United States of America
DOI
10.1177/00302228241295786
UNE publication id
une:1959.11/64201
Abstract

Life and death education is a distinct field of study that has potential life relevance for consideration (e.g., self-awareness and subsequent improvement of one's own health well-being). Existing research development, situating in different learning-sociocultural contexts, has provided consistent evidence that showcases the differing viewpoints of life functioning (e.g., what is the true meaning of life?) and the intricate nature of death and dying (e.g., a death ritual that closely associates with a particular cultural group). Some of the research studies undertaken indicate the effective use of 'philosophization' or the discourse of philosophical analysis, enabling individuals to philosophize, contemplate, and seek transpersonal understanding of the subject matters of life and death (e.g., can a state of 'spiritual transcendence' help to alleviate a person's fear of death?). Such discourse, interestingly, has offered some informative yields for enriching and meaningful life purposes – for example, the seeking to attain transpersonal understanding of life (e.g., what does a state of self-transcendence actually mean?) and/or transpersonal life experience may assist a senior citizen to cope with his mental health during a temporary health crisis. Our teaching and research interest of life and death education over the past decade has led us to consider one important line of inquiry for development: namely, the proposition of a 'universal' blueprint or framework of life and death education for curriculum development, teaching, and research purposes. We are cognizant of the fact that, to date, there is no clear consensus or agreement as to what one is expected (e.g., specific learning outcome) to teach students who wish to study and learn about life and death education. On this basis, the present theoretical article introduces a theoretical framework, termed as 'The Life + Death Education Framework' (e.g., for universities), to assist educators for their quality teaching and/or research inquiries of life and death education. We firmly believe that the Life + Death Education Framework can be universal and, in this case, apply to different learning-sociocultural contexts.

Link
Citation
Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, p. 1-41
ISSN
1541-3764
0030-2228
Start page
1
End page
41

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