Happy Schools How to Interact With Others to Create a More Positive Environment

In this 3 credit graduate-level course, students will learn evidence-based practices for creating a more positive working environment.  They will identify why workplace gossip starts and strategies to prevent it from eroding trust and collaboration.  In addition, they will polish communication skills to further enhance student and staff connection.  By the end of this four week course, students will have a better understanding of personality types and how to manage conflict.  Finally, students explore the causes of burnout and develop a plan to enhance workplace culture.

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify evidenced based practices for creating a “positive brain” and adopt strategies to implement these practices in both the professional and personal environment.
2. Analyze the drama triangle and develop skills to avoid workplace gossip
3. Explain the rules of better conversation and devise habits that garner better listening and inquiry skills
4. Describe characteristics of different personality types (Myers Briggs) and identify strengths of each personality.  Furthermore, acknowledge the learning preferences of each type and develop strategies to better meet the needs of diverse learners
5. Analyze the three major root causes of conflict. Implement the framework: reflect, empathize, and logic to help solve workplace conflict.
6. Identify strategies and collaborate with peers on how to build better connections with students.
7. Describe the benefits of being a “beginner” and implement a strategy to adopt a new skill.
8. Implement a ritual that celebrates joy and delight in your school, and identify ways to show gratitude to build stronger relationships.
9. Analyze the causes of burnout and develop a WIN-WYN strategy that narrows the gap between ideals and reality of work.
10. Design a lesson plan for colleagues or students that improves school culture by addressing one of the following topics covered in the course: positive psychology habits, gossip prevention strategies, communication skills, strengths of different personalities, conflict resolution skills, strategies for building student connection, rituals for sharing joy and delight, or the framework for reducing burnout

Optional: Adams State University Credit

*Optional Adams State University credit after the class ends (additional $165).

Class Code

Schoology course code is emailed after payment.