STRENGTHS BASED SCHOOLS

The field of education is a demanding one. Educators must keep abreast shifting trends including an emphasis on testing, increasing diversity in the classroom and the advent of technological learning. A focus on creating a culture that identifies and develops strengths can help professionals navigate challenging changes. All people have unique strengths that influence the ways they make decisions, work toward goals, and can impact learning. Without ignoring weaknesses a focus on identifying, developing and using strengths can help educators and students alike. 

WORKSHOP FOCUS
All learners have unique strengths. These natural talents and skills act as filters that direct learning, influence motivation, and impact decisions.

In this highly experiential workshop, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener will introduce participants to key issues and skills related to developing strengths based schools. He will discuss creating a culture that supports strengths and will reveal common reasons we do not focus more on strengths.

Workshop participants will have the opportunity to gain practical skills such as “strengths spotting” and will learn various ways to develop strengths. Each topic will be illustrated by research or case studies from—alternately-- primary and secondary schools as well as higher education. .

PROGRAM STRUCTURE
The one day workshop will be divided into four sessions focusing on:

• Introduction to strengths
• Identifying strengths
• Developing Strengths
• Conclusion

TARGET AUDIENCE
School and system leaders in education are encouraged to attend this workshop.

UNIQUE FEATURES

1. Opportunity to engage with an international thought leader in education
2. Practical activities and behaviours to support implementing a culture that supports strengths in education
3. Engage with international contemporary research and case studies on creating a culture that identifies and develops strengths in education  ​

BENEFITS
Participants will:

• Be introduced to the theory and practice behind implementing a strength based culture
• Engage in practical activities to be used in the workplace

ABOUT DR ROBERT BISWAS-DIENER
Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener is widely known as the “Indiana Jones of psychology” because his research on positive topics has taken him to such far-flung places as Greenland, Kenya and India. His research has resulted in 50 published academic articles and chapters as well as 8 books on topics ranging from happiness to courage to strengths.

Robert is an ICF certified coach and runs a coach training program. He lives in Portland, Oregon and rock climbs whenever possible, which is quite a bit..

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Participants will:

• Articulate the relationship between strengths and weaknesses
• Define strengths
• Name and describe three ways to develop strengths
• Spot strengths in colleagues and students
• List 3 benefits of a strengths approach

TOOLS & FRAMEWORKS
In this highly experiential one day training, Dr. Robert Biswas-Diener will discuss creating a culture that supports strengths and will review literature suggesting the benefits of this approach. Workshop participants will have the opportunity to gain practical skills such as “strengths spotting” as well as how to address common skepticism and resistance to the topic. Each topic will be illustrated by research results or case studies from primary and secondary schools as well as higher education.

WORKSHOP SESSIONS
SESSION 1:
Introduction to strengths (definitions, weaknesses, why we don’t focus more heavily on strengths)

SESSION 2:
Strengths spotting and vocabulary building, Strengths based faculty & staff

SESSION 3:
Strengths development

SESSION 4:
Strengths in context: primary schools, secondary schools, higher education

WORKSHOP LOCATIONS & REGISTRATION

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