Teaching Happiness and Promoting Wellbeing

About the course

This course draws together more than 20 years of research into cultivating happiness. Applying the science and wisdom of positive psychology can improve everything from wellbeing and working-memory to attention spans and problem-solving ability. The benefits are infectious: positive emotions and experiences broaden our mindsets and skills, strengthen relationships and transform the capacity of both teachers and pupils to cope with difficulty, allowing everyone to function at their highest level in the classroom and beyond.

This course examines how the practical applications of positive psychology can be introduced to students of all ages and how key practices such as mindfulness will improve focus and concentration, resulting in calmer and happier students. It explores a wealth of research evidence on happiness, wellbeing, positive emotions, learned optimism, flow, engagement and character strengths and offers transformative interventions and approaches for promoting learning and wellbeing in your students and in your own daily life.

Who is this course aimed at?

This course is designed for teachers, SNAs, youth workers and those working with learners in many different contexts. It may also be of interest to social care workers, psychologists and other therapeutic or educational practitioners who want to learn more about the application of positive psychology to enhancing wellbeing and flourishing.

Approved by the Department of Education

This course is approved by the Department of Education.

Three EPV days are allowed for primary school teachers who take the course during the summer term. Please note this provision applies only to the summer term as per Department guidelines.

This course has four terms each year, Spring, May/June, Summer & Autumn.

This course will equip you with an in-depth understanding of the science of happiness and wellbeing and the relevance of positive psychology to the field of education and to your own life. It explores how we can use the principles and practices of positive psychology to build strengths and develop the skills flourishing in our pupils and ourselves. Positive education is underpinned by a solid research foundation from the science of positive psychology and is providing schools and educators, parents and students with new and exciting interventions and embedded practices which can be implemented in many different settings.

Key topics include the science of happiness and wellbeing, the role and value of positive emotions, and the effects of happiness and positive emotion on various outcomes including learning, creativity, health, resilience and longevity. Fascinating research and practical methods for promoting positive relationships, cultivating positive learning environments and encouraging ‘flow’ are provided, making the course an ideal wellbeing curriculum resource for teachers. The course also provides you, the teacher, with the opportunity to practice techniques for enhancing wellbeing in your own daily life through practical exercises and experiments. Finally we look at how to prevent stress and burnout and detail specific approaches for enhancing your practice and your own wellbeing.

Highlights

• Understand the key concepts of positive psychology and its relevance to the field of education.
• Gain an in depth-understanding of the science of happiness and wellbeing and how to promote flourishing using evidence-based approaches from positive psychology.
• Learn practical techniques, tools and exercises for boosting positive emotions, optimism, wellbeing and engagement.
• Understand how to prevent stress and burnout and enhance your own professional practice and wellbeing.
• Enjoy rich opportunities for collaboration with our online network of learners and tutors.
• Save printable course materials and resources for future reference.