An opportunity to change your life, your teaching, your school.

Transcription

1 An opportunity to change your life, your teaching, your school. Positive Education Training Conference Professor Martin Seligman Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania Karen Reivich, Ph.D. Co-director of the Penn Resiliency Project, University of Pennsylvania Two fully residential six-day courses in January 2009 World leading trainers and researchers in Positive Psychology Limited places available

2 Love of learning Curiosity Hope Invitation We are delighted to invite you to attend the 2009 Positive Education Training Conference at Geelong Grammar School, led by Professor Martin Seligman and Dr Karen Reivich from the University of Pennsylvania, and supported by the Australian Government s Department of Education, Employment, and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). As teachers, we know from our experience in the classroom that students who have a positive outlook achieve more. Scientific research conducted by Professor Seligman, Dr Reivich and other leading researchers has proven this to be true, and not just at school. Research results show that people who are optimistic perform better at work, school and sports, are less depressed and less anxious, have fewer physical problems, live longer and have better relationships with other people. The good news is that the research also shows that there are specific skills which can make a difference and that these can be taught. Two, six-day residential training conferences to be held in January 2009 are built upon these research findings. This opportunity follows the outstanding success of the course that Professor Seligman, Dr Reivich and their world leading team of experts delivered in January 2008 to 100 staff from Geelong Grammar School, together with representatives from DEEWR, local government schools and local universities. The training conference will teach Positive Psychology principles and skills that build resilience, optimism, character strengths, engagement in the classroom, positive communication, and positive relationships. It will include dynamic and interactive presentations by Professor Seligman and Dr Reivich, Students who have a positive outlook achieve more. with numerous break-out sessions in which participants will have the opportunity to discuss ideas, practise skills, and receive personal feedback from training staff (with a ratio of 10 participants to each trainer). During the training conference, a variety of strategies will be used to ensure the principles and skills are fully absorbed. These include the use of video, music, lively Q&A sessions and time for personal reflection. Stephen Meek From my personal experience in January 2008, the training conference was profound; inspiring, uplifting and renewing for all those who took part. It reached inside participants, made us look at our own lives and showed us all how we could live more engaged and meaningful lives - and how we could help our students to do the same. Research shows that there are specific skills which can make a difference and that these can be taught. Whilst reaffirming so much of what we do as teachers, the course emphasised what a significant difference we can make in the lives of our students. It was certainly the most important piece of professional development that I have ever attended. In Professor Seligman s view, we are the first school in the world to introduce Positive Education through all year levels, across curricula, and the entire school culture. The benefits of Positive Education for all schools are clearly so significant that the Australian Government, through the Quality Teacher Program administered by DEEWR, is supporting this conference to enable educators from all school sectors across Australia to attend at a reduced cost. It is a wonderful opportunity and I hope that you are able to join us. Stephen Meek Principal Geelong Grammar School Leadership Gratitude Persistence

3 Kindness Fairness Authenticity Lead Trainers Professor Martin Seligman Imagine if schools could teach both the skills of wellbeing and the skills of achievement, without compromising either. Martin E.P. Seligman works on positive psychology, learned helplessness, depression, optimism and pessimism. He is currently Fox Leadership Professor of Psychology in the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, Director of the Positive Psychology Center, and was President of the American Psychological Association, Dr Seligman s bibliography includes twenty-one books and over 200 articles. Among his better-known works are the bestselling Authentic Happiness (Free Press, 2002), Learned Optimism (Knopf, 1991), What You Can Change & What You Can t (Knopf, 1993), The Optimistic Child (Houghton Mifflin, 1995), Helplessness (Freeman, 1975, 1993) and Abnormal Psychology (Norton, 1982, 1988, 1995, with David Rosenhan). His most recent book is Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification, coauthored with Christopher Peterson (Oxford, 2004). Dr Seligman is the recipient of two Distinguished Scientific Contribution awards from the American Psychological Association, the Laurel Award of the American Association for Applied Psychology and Prevention, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Society for Research in Psychopathology. He received his A.B., Princeton University, Summa Cum Laude (Philosophy), 1964; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania (Psychology), 1967; Ph.D., Honoris causa, Uppsala University, Sweden, 1989; Doctor of Humane Letters, Honoris causa, Massachusetts College of Professional Psychology, 1997; Ph.D., Honoris causa, Complutense University, Spain, 2003; and Ph.D., Honoris causa, University of East London, Karen Reivich, Ph.D., is the head trainer for the January 2009 training at Geelong Grammar School. Dr Reivich is co-director of the Penn Resiliency Project at the Positive Psychology Center and a Research Associate in the Department of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also an instructor in the Master of Applied Positive Psychology program in which she teaches a course on Positive Psychology and Coaching. She is a leader in the field of depression prevention, resilience, positive psychology interventions and schoolbased intervention research. Dr Reivich completed her B.A. and her Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. Her current work focuses on helping parents and educators to promote wellbeing in children and adolescents. She is one of the lead authors of the Penn Resiliency Program (PRP) for youth and a parallel program for parents. During the past 15 years, she has been the co-director of studies of PRP, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. She is also a lead author of a high school Positive Psychology curriculum and a Co-Principal Investigator on a Department of Education-funded study of that curriculum. Dr Reivich s scholarly publications have appeared in academic journals including Psychological Science, Journal of Early Adolescence, School Psychology Quarterly, Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, and Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Together with Drs Seligman, Gillham and Jaycox, she is a co-author of the book The Optimistic Child and with Dr Andrew Shatté she co-authored The Resilience Factor. Doctor Karen Reivich My goal as head trainer is to facilitate an experience that enhances the personal and professional life of each participant. Zest Perspective Social Intelligence

4 Teamwork Creativity Bravery Benefits The training conference will teach practical skills that can be used in the classroom and everyday life. These scientifically proven Positive Psychology principles and skills can have the following benefits for educators: Enhance resilience, positive emotion, stress-management, and wellbeing. Identify and develop character strengths. Build engagement in the classroom and beyond. Increase optimism and gratitude. Promote positive communication and positive relationships. Improve performance and productivity. The training conference will teach practical skills that can be used in the classroom and everyday life. Learning The goals of the training conference are to provide participants with an opportunity to learn the science behind the field of Positive Psychology, to apply the core concepts and skills to their own lives, and to begin a discussion on how to use these concepts and skills in their work with school students. Below are the key learning objectives: Participants will learn the science behind the field of Positive Psychology, including how to increase positive emotions, build character strengths, and enhance a sense of meaning. Participants will learn and discuss the importance of applying the science of Positive Psychology to the field of Education. Participants will learn about the empirically validated Penn Resilience Program curriculum which has been demonstrated to reduce and prevent depression, anxiety, pessimism, and conduct problems in youth. Participants will learn the seven core abilities that comprise resilience: emotional awareness, impulse control, optimism, self-efficacy, empathy, flexible and accurate thinking, and reaching out. Objectives Participants will learn and practise specific resilience skills to develop and enhance each of the core abilities and how to apply these skills to meet challenges, bounce back from failure, and achieve one s goals. Participants will learn about the empirically validated Positive Psychology Program curriculum which has been demonstrated to increase character strengths related to learning (e.g., curiosity, love of learning), increase achievement, and improve social skills in youth. Participants will learn the twenty four character strengths, the research supporting the importance of identifying and using strengths, and will identify and practise applying their own strengths and those of their colleagues. Participants will learn and practice skills for building positive communication and strategies of praise that build mastery and competence. Participants will learn about the scientific evidence for the importance of gratitude in wellbeing and will practise techniques for developing and expressing gratitude. Appreciation of beauty Humour

5 Open-mindedness Love Prudence Conference Dates There will be two identical training courses, each of six days duration. Course 1 will run from Sunday 11 to Friday 16 January Course 2 will run from Sunday 18 to Friday 23 January Venue The courses will be fully residential at Geelong Grammar School, 50 Biddlecombe Ave, Corio, Victoria This will give participants the opportunity for further discussions in the evenings with the University of Pennsylvania staff (who will also be living on campus), with each other and also to use the excellent facilities at the Handbury Centre for Wellbeing. Trainers Professor Martin Seligman and Dr Karen Reivich will be joined by their team of experts from the University of Pennsylvania and a number of Master Teachers in Positive Psychology from Geelong Grammar School. There will be a ratio of trainers to participants of 1:10. Who should attend this course? Registrations are encouraged from educators that work with students from kindergarten to Year 12 from all school sectors. We encourage each school to send a group of participants comprising a strong leadership contingent. We recommend this leadership contingent include the Head/Principal, year group and curriculum leaders, star teachers and school counsellors. A Details group of more than three participants per school ensures that there is active support for Positive Psychology at a strategic level, and that these individuals can support each other in the introduction of positive education approaches into your school. If schools are unable to facilitate these numbers, we suggest that schools consider working in cluster arrangements with neighbouring schools so that support and momentum can be gained in that way. Preparation Course attendees are asked to complete the VIA Strengths Survey at: and to bring a print-out of the results to the course. It is also recommended that delegates read The Resilience Factor by Drs Karen Reivich and Andrew Shatté and A Primer in Positive Psychology by Dr Christopher Peterson prior to the course, as this will allow participants to start the conference at a higher level of knowledge and make better use of conference time. Availability There are 150 places at each course. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Cost The cost of the six-day fully residential course is $2,700 (excluding GST) per person. This includes all food and accommodation. Included in the price Attendance at all Conference program sessions. Training session presentation materials. Highly detailed curricula for two Positive Psychology training programs for students: Penn Resilience Program for children and adolescents (Teacher Manual and Student Notebook) Positive Psychology Program for high school students (Teacher Manual and Student Notebook) A certificate from the University of Pennsylvania recording participation in the course. Accommodation for the duration of the course in a single room. Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner for the duration of the course. Conference satchel and listing of all participants. Attendance at the Welcome function. Attendance at the Conference Dinner. Attendance at an evening lecture by Stephen Meek, Principal, about Positive Education at Geelong Grammar School. Use of the excellent sports and leisure facilities in the Handbury Centre for Wellbeing, during specified times. Use of the School s computing services, during specified times. How to secure your place To secure your place at the Positive Education Training Conference 2009 go to: and complete the booking form. Bookings close on 30 November Booking Acknowledgement Your booking will be acknowledged by within 10 working days. Further Information If you have any questions about the Positive Education Training Conference 2009, please contact Paige Williams, Conference Manager on tel: or PosEdConference09@ggs.vic.edu.au Forgiveness Modesty Religiousness