subject happiness
TRANSCRIPT
“We are what we think. All that we are arises with our
thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.”
Hindu Prince Siddharta Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C. (Buddha)
How it all began…
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
Today‘s homework: Simply being happy!
- How a new subject changed German schools… and what about YOU?
‘‘Subject Happiness‘‘- for German students only?
JOIN
NOW
…and what about YOU?
BENEFITS: combine the obligatory with fun (CAS suitable), meet the initiator himself, experience ``subject happiness`` in a German classroom …
LEARN TO BE HAPPY!!!
PROJECT: Sixth former and IB student? What are you waiting for? we meet in classroom G Kennicott on 13 December 2011 during lunch time break for further information learn more about it and get involved in a psychological, schooldevelopmental, cultural and linguistic project in whatever way you like (arts, media, sports, language, presentations …) in the long run we might organise a discussion with experts and an exchange with German students
FACT: students are the least happy at the dentist‘s - and at school
SOLUTION: ``Subject Happiness``
learn life skills with fun develop creativity while
solving tasks take over responsibility win people over resolve conflicts discover and experience
interests and talents develop health
consciousness …
CONTACT PERSONS: Ms Anna Löffler-Gutmann (German FLA & FLA Ambassador, Redworth library)Mr Troake (Psychology, Kennicott room G)
What we made of it…
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
Today‘s homework: Simply being happy!
- How a new subject changed German schools
‘‘Subject Happiness‘‘- for German students only?
at KEVICC
…and us !?!
BENEFITS: combine the obligatory with fun (CAS suitable), talk to the initiator himself, experience ``subject happiness``, virtual exchange with German students … Learn more about
yourself and BE HAPPY!!!
Very enthusiastic and committed year 12 IB students have been meeting during lunch break once a week since December 2011 to learn both about their own idea of happiness and the subject curriculum in Germany.
Not only do they get involved in psychological, schooldevelopmental, cultural and linguistic projects but also they create and present their own projects matched with the curricular units, e.g. ‘‘Body in motion‘‘, in various creative ways (arts, media, sports, literature etc.) while using English/German literary sources.
Also, we will hold a videoconference with the subject‘s initiator in April/May 2012 and we have our own closed forum online to have a virtual exchange with German students who are familiar with the subject and the methods we have tested ourselves with.
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
Experiencing ‘’Subject Happiness’’…
- Methods : ‘‘Happiness in action‘‘
- Discussion & Evaluation
- Virtual communication & Videoconference ...
Back on
Back
Warm Shower
Plateau line-up
- Methods : ‘‘Happiness in action‘‘
- Discussion & Evaluation
- Virtual communication & Videoconference ...
Aim –
Sticking point
- Strength
Thumb focus
Warm back
- Methods : ‘‘Happiness in action‘‘
- Discussion & Evaluation
- Virtual communication & Videoconference ...
Public person (Öffentliche Person)
Blind spot (Blinder Fleck)
My secret (Mein Geheimnis)
Unconscious knowledge (Unbewusstes Wissen)
JoHari-Window ME Known Unknown Known
OTHERS
Unknown
(Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham, 1955; Fritz-Schubert Institute, Heidelberg)
‘’Das kleine Glück’’ (Enjoying life)
‘‘The little moments of happiness‘‘
(short meditation exercise which can be used in your daily life)
My Biography
Birth NOW Future???
Elementary/ primary school
A-Levels
Studiying in Munich
Work experience andimproving language skills: England
- Hard to find internshipplaces …
? Where and whatexactly do I want tostudy?
+ Project ‚‘SubjectHappiness‘‘
School Exchange to Upminster: Vicky , friend for a lifetime
? Counsellingin educationalpsychology
Hardwork,+ family, friends
New town, new place,New friends, new life +
Hard work -+, degree
…???
Cornwall +++
London +++
Vienna +++
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
What we think about it…
FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS ONLY!?‘‘ ANNA LÖFFLER-GUTMANN 23. Januar 2012
Reflection and Discussion I (e.g. Enjoying life)
How did you feel yourself while testing the methods?
Which methods can you remember and which one is your favourite so far and why?
What did you learn about yourself?
Do you think these methods and their results are useful in your daily life and can the methods contribute to a more enjoyable life?
Preparation for international exchange
(psychological, linguistic, cultural & schooldevelopmental aspect)
What would you like to ask the initiator about this concept of the first lessons of ‘’subject happiness’’? (positive/negative criticism etc.)
What would you like to know from the students in Germany? What could you talk about against this background and your personal experience?
What we think about it…
‘’I joined this project not really knowing what it was and therefore thought I wouldn't stay long or enjoy it. However, I was really quite surprised at what happiness is and what techniques we can use to explore it. My favourite technique so far was the 'Warm Back' for I can now become easily happy by looking at what my lovely friends have written about me! I really do enjoy learning about happiness!‘‘ :D – Ruby Ritter
,,Ich fand es sehr interessant, dass
es ein Fach gibt, das ''Glück'' heißt.
Ich habe noch nie davon gehört und
als ich mitgemacht habe, fand ich es
sehr interessant und spannend. Es
hat mir Spaß gemacht mitzumachen
und Glück aus vielen anderen
Perspektiven zu sehen.'' – Lisa
"I think that this project is interesting because
instead of learning intellectual skills we learn
something useful for our personal life. I hope to
learn methods to be happy and to learn how to help
others, and so far, the methods seem quite
interesting and might help me and others in the
future. It has been useful for me to get to know what
happiness means for other people in the group, and
in this way, understand their way of thinking better
than I used to do." - Alba Z.
"I decided to take part in the project because I thought it was
a good idea that something was being done about happiness
in schools, and in general. I'm not yet sure that adding this
subject is the solution to happiness in school but it seems it
would definitely help with general levels of happiness. Some
of the methods seem useful as they are but I think most we
have tried so far would have to be adapted for individual use
outside of lessons; most of the concepts seem useful, though.
I like how individuality in happiness is encouraged, I think
this helps reduce how much we seek it outside ourselves but
at the same time we also gain an understanding of how a
group could become happier." – Brooke Smith
What we think about it…
‘’I started going to this project because I want to find
out more about how happiness is taught and discuss
what people think make people happier. I don’t really
expect many things! But I do expect learning about lots
of different things that make people happy! I can
remember the exercise when we closed our eyes and
thought about a moment of happiness in the past. I
liked this activity very much! From past exercises, I
have learnt that people think I am very strong
(mentally, physically, etc.) and that people think I am
clever! Over the course of this project, I have learnt
about different ways to make me happy and have got
even more interested in the ‘’Subject Happiness’’!’’
–Tim Walpot
‘’I took part in it as I wanted to find out more about the subject. I didn’t have many expectations really. I really liked the method where we wrote on each other’s backs. I think it’s important for people to feel valued in life and that makes them happy but also it’s great to be able to tell someone how you feel about someone as it’s often quite hard. I think it would be good to include it in English Curriculum. The methods seem good but only if it was taken seriously.’’ – Hope
‘’I started this course, project, because I wanted to find out more
about the subject and how it’s taught. I enjoy the happiness
lessons because they are different to other subjects and allow me
to reflect on my life and make things better. The first exercise we
did ‘’Das kleine Glück’’ worked very well for me, I imagined a
happy moment in my life and when I described it, it made me
happy within my heart. A smile crossed my face.’’ - Brechje
What do YOU think about it…
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
- Methods : ‘‘Happiness in action‘‘
- Discussion & Evaluation
- Virtual communication & Videoconference ...
!?
+
-
CAN YOU LE
ARN
TO BE HAPPY?
What the expert says...
GERMAN FLA- PROJECT 2012 ‘‘SUBJECT HAPPINESS- FOR GERMAN STUDENTS
ONLY!?’’
‘‘Subject Happiuess- for German students only!?‘‘
‘’Never before have there been as many problematic children as we see today. Our children are said to be hyperactive, aggressive, striving to become top model or superstar or they are hiding under their mother’s apron strings. But are we really surrounded by small tyrants and anxious people who stay in the family home forever? No, states Ernst Fritz-Schubert. We are far too focused on their supposed problems fearing that they might fail in today’s meritocracy. But if one only holds their weaknesses against them they will become unhappy and demotivated. Fritz-Schubert advocates for a radical change in thinking and therefore offers a new pedagogical approach: the happiness of our children must have priority. Whoever knows a lot about oneself, who learns to build one’s strengths and to work to improve one’s weaknesses will learn to be happy. Even in difficult situations in life you would be crisis-proof.’’
Happiness can be learned- what gives children life’s strengthGlück kann man lernen-Was Kinder stark fürs Leben macht (Ernst Fritz-Schubert, Berlin 2010)