The Science of Happiness

Everyone wants to be happy. There are countless ideas on what happiness is and how we can achieve it, and there are practical lessons from science that we can apply to our own lives to develop meaningful relationships and contribute to the greater good of others. Through research-backed evidence and activities, it is my goal in this class to teach strategies for developing both happiness and social-emotional well-being.

In this immersive and thought-provoking course, students will delve into the fascinating world of positive psychology. We will study the topics of:

• Positive Emotions: Discover the role of positive emotions in enhancing overall well-being and how to nurture them in everyday life.
• Compassion and Empathy: Learn about the importance of compassion and empathy in building strong relationships and fostering a supportive community.
• Strengths and Virtues: Identify and develop personal strengths and virtues that contribute to a meaningful life.
• Positive Psychology and Motivation: Understand the principles of positive psychology and how motivation drives personal growth and achievement.
• Mindfulness: Practice mindfulness techniques to reduce stress, increase focus, and improve emotional regulation.
• Peak Performance: Explore strategies for achieving peak performance in various aspects of life, from academics to sports and beyond.
• Positive Health: Examine the connection between physical health and psychological well-being, and learn ways to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Religion, Spirituality, and Well-Being: Investigate the role of religion and spirituality in enhancing well-being and fostering a sense of purpose.
• Well-Being Across the Life-Span: Study how well-being evolves at different stages of life and the factors that influence happiness throughout the lifespan.

Course Structure

This class is structured as a series of 12 modules. Each module will be covered in 2 weeks or less. Students will be required to complete readings on the topics, listen to short videos related to the concepts, and then attend both one-hour live class components each week. On Monday of each week, an email will be sent to students introducing the topics, assignments, and quizzes. Assignments will include journal entries, personal reflections, and exercises to practice the new skills. There will be several quizzes to measure comprehension of the material. A final rewiring project will be required where the student will use newly taught strategies in a real-life application.

REQUIREMENTS – Students will be required to attend live sessions. In the event of a conflict all live portions of the class will be recorded and posted by Thursday afternoon of the week of recording. Students will be assessed on their participation, discussion board posts and on the “weekly rewiring exercises”. A final class project will be completed by the end of class.

Students will organize all of their weekly rewiring exercises and develop a video presentation or PowerPoint presentation of how this could be used to help others improve their own well-being.

Who should enroll?

This class is for high school students who are looking for an interactive class, and are interested in improving their own well-being. Qualified students will spend about 4 hours per week on this class. This accounts for reading assigned articles, completing work on the discussion board posts and the rewiring exercises, and attending the live online sessions of the class

Technology Requirements

• High speed, broadband Internet
• Sound card and microphone (for live sessions)
• Streaming video capabilities to watch recorded lectures
• Zoom download to attend live class lectures

Evaluation and Feedback

Students can expect to receive an email every Friday detailing the upcoming week’s topics and assignments. Occasionally, I will send additional information about topics that are related to our discussion. Students will also be emailed with mid-semester and final grades for the class.

Communication

Class Communication: In addition to the many forms of communication which occur in this class, students can expect to receive a Monday email which will include an explanation of the concepts which will be covered, discussion questions posted for the week, and the assigned exercises for the week.

My virtual office door is always open. Students can communicate with me via email, or through the discussion board, and I attempt to answer all email communication on the day I receive it (there are some exceptions to this, but they are infrequent). I encourage students to share information about the topics which they are learning and ask questions in order to improve their understanding.