What we do. The What, Why & How of Posi2ve Educa2on. Mental Health Spectrum (Well-being Ins2tute, University of Cambridge, 2011)

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1 What we do The What, Why & How of Posi2ve Educa2on Dr Suzy Green Clinical & Coaching Psychologist We help the world to flourish by crea4ng meaningful and sustainable posi4ve change for individuals, schools and workplaces. We re recognised world leaders in applying cu>ng-edge scien4fic research to sustainably transform well-being and enhance performance. Mental Health Spectrum (Well-being Ins2tute, University of Cambridge, 2011) Well-Being & Engagement High Mental Health PLODDING FLOURISHING FUNCTIONING The effect of shiping the mean Low Engagement / Goal Striving High Engagement / Goal Striving NON-FUNCTIONAL & DISTRESSED Grant (2012) Keyes (2007) LANGUISHING Low Mental Health FUNCTIONAL & DISTRESSED Common mental disorder Languishing Moderate mental health Psychological resources Flourishing 1

2 AND it all starts with you! Flourishing Introduc2ons When do you flourish? This apernoon Posi2ve Psychology: off the star4ng blocks The what, why and how of Posi2ve Educa2on: Posi2ve Psychology Implementa2on Key considera2ons Presiden2al Address to the American Psychological Associa2on, 1998 Posi2ve Psychology Well-Being Science Posi2ve Psychology is the scien2fic study of the condi2ons and processes that lead to op2mal human func2oning (Gable & Haidt, 2005) A science of well-being. A science of resilience A science of achievement Green & Palmer (2014) Seligman, 2011 Flourish 2

3 Key Areas of Research Deci & Ryan (2000) Posi2ve Emo2ons & Psychological Well-Being Character Strengths Mindfulness Meaning & Purpose Posi2ve Leadership/Organisa2ons Forgiveness Gra2tude Crea2vity Wisdom Hope & many others.. Posi2ve Psychology Interven2ons 51 studies involving over 4000 individuals = Significant increase in levels of well-being and decrease in depressive symptoms: Why Posi2ve Psychology? Goal training and se>ng; Prac4cing gra4tude and kindness; Mindfulness training; Learned op4mism; Strengths iden4fica4on and development; Best possible self exercises; Coaching Sin & Lyubormirsky, (2009) Bad is Stronger than Good 3

4 Heliotropic Effect Posi2ve Psychology Why do YOU need it? What is Posi4ve Educa4on? Posi2ve Educa2on Seligman et al 2009 Posi2ve Educa2on IPEN Interna4onal Posi4ve Educa4on Network The applica4on of well-being science in educa4onal se>ngs with the aim of crea4ng flourishing students, staff and whole school communi8es Green (2014) Handbook of Posi8ve Psychology in Schools (Second Edi4on) Gilman, Huebner & Furlong 4

5 Posi2ve Educa2on Explicit & Implicit Explicit teaching the skills of resilience, achievement & well-being to staff, students, parents and broader school community; PPIs. Implicit crea2ng a posi2ve school culture (incorpora2ng a coaching culture) through language, policies, procedures, visuals and broader environment. Schools as Posi4ve Ins4tu4ons Ins2tu2ons that move individuals toward beger ci2zenship, responsibility, nurturance, altruism, civility, modera2on, tolerance, and work ethic (Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi, 2000, p. 5) that a focus on schools may serve as the nexus between the movement in posi2ve psychology searching to promote posi2ve human development and the ins2tu2ons that could serve as the vehicle for this development (Clonan et al, 2004) Why Posi2ve Educa2on? Seligman, 2009 As an an2dote to depression (+ anxiety) To increase life sa2sfac2on (well-being) To improve learning + crea2vity (academic outcomes) Why Posi2ve Educa2on? Posi8ve Emo8ons, Learning & Achievement! Increased crea2vity and flexibility of thought; Improved conceptual reasoning and long-term memory; Improved posi2ve/nega2ve emo2onal ra2o; More resilient in stressful situa2ons; More compassion/tolerance towards others. Because most young people adend school, schools provide the opportunity to reach them and enhance their well-being on a large scale The Flipside? In contrast, students with poor mental health experience substan8al challenges with their learning and school performance. Evidence suggests that up to 14% of adolescents experience a mental illness, with depression and anxiety being the most prevalent condi2ons (Sawyer, Kosky, Graetz, Arney, Zubrick, & Baghurst, 2000). Depression and anxiety lead to reduced student learning through decreased concentra2on, mo2va2on, and interest and challenges to cogni2ve func2ons such as working memory (Frojd, Nissinen, Pelkonen, Margunen, Koivisto, & Kal2ala- Heino, 2008; Owens, Stevenson, Hadwin, & Norgate, 2012). Posi2ve Educa2on What s working well? 5

6 The How of Posi2ve Educa2on The prac4cal implementa4on of Posi4ve Educa4on is complex Norrish, Williams, O Connor, Robinson (2009) Strategic Implementa2on (Posi*ve Educa*on Framework: Norrish et al 2013) LEARN it LIVE it TEACH it EMBED it Posi2ve Educa2on Approach Posi2ve Educa2on Checklist ü Staff training in Posi2ve Educa2on/Well-Being: Theories of Well-Being ie PERMA, SDT, Broaden & Build Character Strengths, Mindfulness, Mental Toughness ü Evidence-Based Coaching for Leaders, Staff & Students ü Bespoke Posi2ve Educa2on Curriculum ü Crea2on of a Wellbeing Team & a HOPE ü Leadership Coaching of HODS and HOPE ü Posi2ve Educa2on Audit (AI) ü Crea2on of a Mental Health Strategy Fig. 1.3 Waters (2011) Leading cultural change at schools through a positive psychology approach Strategic Implementa2on Key Considera2ons U2lise evidence-based programs. Create a Common Understanding Select the Early Adopters Create Pockets of Success Share Stories Across Boundaries Adjust Across Boundaries Full engagement by leaders & staff (before students) magers; Mroz & Quinn, 2009 Sustainability structure a longer term plan; Policy Development to provide access for the wider school community across Australia and beyond! 6

7 5 Key Ac2ons 1. Conduct a Posi2ve Educa2on Audit (PERMA) to iden2fy WWW at your school and opportuni2es for enhancement 2. Educate & inspire the whole school as to what Pos Ed is (it s not a program but an approach/philosophy that supports achievement + well-being) 3. Get Senior Leadership buy-in & sponsorship (Train your leaders in Coaching!) 4. Create a Team of Pos Ed/Well-Being Champions + a HOPE - Champion of Champions! 5. Use external experts AND leverage your in-house resources Posi2ve Educa2on Final Comment In conclusion. no two school systems would implement posi4ve school psychology in an iden4cal fashion (p. 105). In terms of posi8ve educa8on programs, it is recommended that educators create programs that meet the individualized needs of their school, building on what is already working well Clonan and colleagues (2004) info@theposi*vityins*tute.com.au Facebook: The Posi*vity Ins*tute TwiUer: DrSuzyGreen 7