Learning happiness at school Conclusion of the TU Braunschweig pilot project
Can you train happiness? Yes, you can! And the earlier the better, says happiness researcher Tobias Rahm. That’s why the scientist from the Institute of Educational Psychology at Technische Universität Braunschweig, together with author Carina Mathes, launched the project “Happiness Skills in Primary School” (GlüGS project). In the school year 2022/23, more than 500 children at primary schools in Braunschweig took part in happiness lessons. Tobias Rahm and the GlüGS team will report on what the pupils have learned at the final event on 8 June at the university’s North Campus.
The aim of the GlüGS project is to bring more happiness and well-being into schools. That’s why, from November 2022 to January 2023 and from April to June 2023, the timetable of the fourth graders included a total of eleven hours of “happiness lessons” in addition to maths, German and sports. The “happiness lessons” were taught by trainee teachers and educational scientists from TU Braunschweig, who worked in pairs with the class teacher at one of the 16 participating Braunschweig primary schools.
Happiness skills as a school subject
The lessons were based on the “Curriculum School Subject Happiness Skills“ by author Carina Mathes, which offers students an easy-to-follow curriculum with inspiring stories, information for parents, worksheets and craft instructions. For each lesson, students received a new learning video from the author and a reflection session with psychologist Tobias Rahm, retired school principal Barbara Steinau-Giesert and Carina Mathes, who was connected online.
The happiness lesson is based on scientific findings from positive psychology, resilience research and learning and brain research. Topics include helpfulness and gratitude, relaxation and mindfulness, stress and anxiety, self-confidence and awareness of feelings. These were taught to the pupils in a playful and creative way in the “happiness lessons“, for example by having the children write postcards with compliments.
What did the happiness lessons achieve? “The response of the participating children, parents, teachers and school administrators was positive throughout,” says Tobias Rahm from the Institute of Educational Psychology at Technische Universität Braunschweig. But the researcher naturally wanted to find out more. At four measurement points, pupils, parents, teachers and students were surveyed and interviewed about the effects and experiences of the “happiness lessons”.
Negative feelings decreased
Before the happiness lessons began, the participating children and their parallel classes completed questionnaires about their own well-being to measure changes and ensure that they were attributable to the programme. The results were mixed. The children showed significant effects in one area in particular: negative emotions decreased after one month. Parents’ questionnaire data indicated a moderately positive effect on their children’s mental well-being. Of particular interest was the evidence that children who initially had less support at home or a lower self-image benefited more from the happiness sessions. Although the quantitative results were limited, the qualitative feedback showed a high level of satisfaction with the programme and its effects. In particular, children and parents reported improvements in social behaviour and classroom climate. Positive experiences were also highlighted in interviews with school administrators and teachers.
Why did many of the expected effects, such as improved mood, not materialise? A comparison with other positive education programmes, such as the GNH (Gross National Happiness) curriculum by Alejandro Adler (2016), shows that the intensity of the happiness lessons, with eleven lessons of 45 minutes each over three months, is lower than in more extensive programmes delivered by intensively trained teachers. The effects found here can therefore be considered a partial success.
Easy integration into school life
“The GlüGS project takes the pressure off teachers and requires only a small amount of financial resources, which is of course a great advantage in everyday school life,” says Tobias Rahm. “Unlike extensive programmes, which depend heavily on teachers’ commitment and preparation time, this approach is much easier to integrate into school life.”
Another side effect is that student teachers learn early in their training how valuable it can be to promote children’s well-being at school and how to put this into practice. The gradual development of a happiness-oriented school culture could be driven in the long term by more experienced teachers and other professionals working in the school.
“However, it is important to remember that children’s wellbeing is influenced by many factors, including genetic predisposition and family variables such as parenting skills and health. These can have a greater impact on well-being than positive educational programmes,” the happiness researcher points out. “But if we want a society with greater well-being and less stress and mental illness, our education system remains the best place to start.” His vision: schools that thrive, with self-empowerment programmes in every year group, staff trained in positive parenting, and motivational programmes for parents.
Further information: www.tu-braunschweig.de/gluecksforschung
Closing event for the pilot phase of the GlüGS project
Interested parties are welcome to attend upon registration. Media are cordially invited.
8 June 2024, 2:30 pm
TU Braunschweig, Auditorium Bienroder Weg 84, 38106 Braunschweig
Programme
2:30 pm Welcome address
- Torsten Glaser, Director of the Regional Office for Schools and Education Braunschweig
- Carmen Becker, Dean of Studies, Faculty of Humanities and Education, TU Braunschweig
3 pm Presentation by Tobias Rahm
- The GlüGS project and what we have learnt
4:30 pm Workshops
- Familiarisation with exercises from the GlüGS lessons
5:30 pm Conclusion
- Outlook and new projects
Information about the event: https://www.tu-braunschweig.de/gluecksforschung/veranstaltungen
Registration required: https://www.unipark.de/uc/GlueGS/