ServiceLearning and Other Applied Exercises for Teaching Positive Psychology in the College Classroo

1
Service-Learning and Other Applied Exercises for
Teaching Positive Psychology in the College
Classroom

• Jeana L. Magyar-Moe, Ph.D.
• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
• Stevens Point, WI
• jmagyarm_at_uwsp.edu

2
Positive Psychology Teaching History

• Kansas State University
• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
• Special Topics Seminar Course
• Psychology Elective Course
• 8th Semester

3
Rationale for Applied Exercises

• Especially useful in positive psych. courses
• Content can be applied to all, no matter whether
  they are languishing or flourishing
• Content is useful regardless of future career
  goals
• Wide variety of applied activities used
• Freedom to adjust/tweak assignments to better fit
  diverse lives of students

4
Sample Student Comments

• Virtually all of our activities in positive
  psychology were greatly applicable to my life
  these days and it felt so good getting to work
  through them.  Especially the relationship
  things, as they made a big difference for me and
  my relationship.  Such a wonderful field of
  psychology! 

5
Sample Student Comments

• Overall, I am very grateful for all that I have
  learned this semester. In all four years of my
  college education, I dont think there was any
  other class that had as much direct, real-life
  application as this one, and I know that I will
  continue to use what I learned in positive
  psychology even after graduation.

6

• I do not know what is down the road for my
  family as a result of my uncles cancer
  diagnosis. As the tears pour from my eyes, I am
  really trying to put some of our positive
  psychology exercises into action. I have been
  savoring the time that I spend with those that I
  love and thanking God for every person in my
  life. I am thankful that my cousins were able to
  grow up in a very supportive and loving home with
  both parents present. I am thankful that my uncle
  has had the opportunity to meet some amazing
  doctors and nurses who are devoting their lives
  to help him hopefully recover, but keep him
  comfortable in the meantime. I am thankful that
  my uncle has lived to see the birth of his first
  grandchild just 2 weeks after his diagnosis. I am
  also very thankful for my health and my life as a
  whole. It is not perfect, and I do not expect
  perfection, but I have accomplished a lot in my
  24 years. I just wanted to give my most recent
  real-world example of putting our classroom
  information to good use.

7
Individual Applied Exercises

• Positive Introductions
• Gratitude Letters
• Gratitude Journals
• Forgiveness Letters/Finding Happy Endings
• Letting Go of Grudges
• One Door Closes, Another Door Opens
• Top 10 Flow Experiences
• Using Signature Strengths More/In a New Way
• ABCDE Disputation
• Savoring a Beautiful Day

8
Sample Student Comments

• Writing and personally delivering my gratitude
  letter was one of the most rewarding things Ive
  done in a long time, not just for me, but also
  for the teacher I said thank you to. I think it
  made her feel good to hear that all the ways
  shes helped me in the past were really worth it
  and showed that her existence in life was of HUGE
  importance, especially to me. I have been in a
  good mood all week. Im glad that I delivered
  this letter early in the week because it had a
  lasting effect all week long, and hopefully it
  rubbed off on other people too. I told a lot of
  people about this wonderful experience.

9
Individual Applied Activities

• Hope Letters
• Gainful Employment Activity
• Strengths Assessment of Significant Others/Family
• Active-Constructive Responding Week

10
Sample Student Comments

• I wanted to send you this e-mail to let you
  know that I got my hope letter that you had me
  write to myself last year in positive psychology
  class. When I read my letter, I realized that I
  was not following through with my own goals in
  life, rather, I was letting myself get
  sidetracked with unimportant and even unhealthy
  activities. I just wanted you to know that
  because of this letter I am back in school and
  back on track. I didnt think much of the
  assignment at the time, but now I see exactly why
  you asked us to do these. Thank you so much!

11
Sample Student Comments

• Thank you for making me learn more about my
  husband and his strengths. One of his top
  strengths is justice and fairness. I realize that
  this is why he gives his employees first dibs at
  days off over the holidays before he puts in for
  his own vacation time. It used to irritate me
  because I never knew how to plan for the
  holidays. Now that I see he is simply utilizing
  one of his strengths, I actually find his
  behavior to be very attractive.

12
Sample Student Comments

• I taught my boyfriend a lesson in Positive
  Psychology last weekend.  On Friday night, my
  friend who's getting married this weekend (whose
  wedding I'm in) called and we were talking all
  about the wedding for a good 45 minutes on the
  phone.  When I got off, I was so excited for this
  next weekend and my boyfriend was just like,
  What? Okay.  He said he didn't understand why
  girls got so excited for weddings.  So, I
  explained to him first off kill-joy (and he used
  it the next day in a sentence) and secondly
  active-constructive responding.  It didn't really
  hit him until the next morning on the way to work
  and he wrote me a very apologetic email saying he
  won't kill my joy any more.  There is positive
  psychology everywhere! Thank you for teaching me
  how to have a successful relationship. He
  understands me better and we grow closer because
  of it. I only wish there was Positive Psychology
  II.

13
Group Applied Exercises

• Putting Positive Psychology Into Action Group
  Projects
• Groups of Five
• Choose a positive psychology construct or theory
  and develop a plan to bring these to life outside
  the classroom over the course of the semester.
• 15-20 minute group presentations
• 8-15 page group report of the project

14
Sample Positive Psych. In Action Projects

• Hershey Kisses and Thank You Notes to All Program
  Assistants on Campus
• Cookies and Gratitude Cards to All Custodians on
  Campus
• Teaching Kindergartners About their Strengths
  Reading Them Strength Stories
• Be Good to Your Neighbor Day (on UWSP Campus)
• Little Things Make a Difference (door holding,
  complimenting)
• Have a Little Fine Chocolate While You Wait
• Gratitude Comparisons Between Children at Head
  Start and Elderly Adults in A Nursing Home
• Teaching Children About Gratitude in a Daycare
  Center
• Three Blessings with Family and Friends
• Pass It On (like Pay it Forward)
• Positive Psychology booth at the Student Center
  with Positive Psychology Take-Home Activities
  (and requesting reaction replies via e-mail)

15
Service-Learning Activities

• Habitat for Humanity
• Salvation Army Hope Center
• Group Fundraising Project
• Minimum of 10 hours of participation

16
Service-Learning Activities

• Reaction Journals and Self-Report Measures
• Just before and just after service-learning
  participation
• Anytime they were reflecting on or discussing
  these activities
• Application Paper

17
Changes in Positive Emotions, Happiness, and
Understanding Through a Positive Psychology
Service-Learning Experience
97 learned something new regarding the class
material 94 resulted in deeper learning of the
course material 97 made a positive impact on
their own lives 100 made a positive impact
on the lives of others 54 utilized their
strengths in the process 64 will definitely
volunteer again 100 S-L was a good fit for the
course
18
Changes in Emotions Happiness

• Positive Emotion and Current Happiness Measures
  increased significantly (p across volunteer sessions
• Negative Emotion Measures decreased
  significantly (p one and two
• Depression Symptom Measures decreased
  significantly (p sessions

19

• Positive Psychology
• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
• Spring 2007
• Reflections on
• Service - Learning

20
(No Transcript)
21
(No Transcript)
22

• There are many ways to make yourself happier,
  with volunteering being one of them people
  really can make the world a better place. If it
  wasnt for this service-learning project, I dont
  think I would have really understood the concepts
  of broaden-and-build and the feel-good-do-good
  phenomenon. I understood the concepts from what I
  learned in class, but it takes on a completely
  different meaning when it can be applied to your
  own life. This project helped me take positive
  psychology to heart and I look forward to using
  it throughout the rest of my life.
  -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

23

• I just wanted to share that I recently applied
  with V.W. Corporate and one question they asked
  me on this assessment they had dealt with
  volunteering and leadership in the community and
  I shared my service-learning experiences in our
  Positive Psychology class with them. They
  responded and said those are exactly the
  qualities they look for in potential employees.
  So, there is another benefit of taking your
  class...it goes way beyond the lecture. -UWSP
  Positive Psychology Student

24
(No Transcript)
25
(No Transcript)
26
(No Transcript)
27
(No Transcript)
28
(No Transcript)
29
(No Transcript)
30

• Even though the community service was a
  course requirement, I still experienced more
  positive emotion after I helped out. I am glad I
  was forced to do the community service because
  I would probably not have completed it otherwise.
  I may have had intentions of doing it, but I
  would have told myself that I was just too busy.
  I have come to understand that I experience a lot
  of happiness through helping others so now am
  motivated to continue volunteering in the
  future.
• -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
(No Transcript)
38
(No Transcript)
39
(No Transcript)
40
(No Transcript)
41
(No Transcript)
42
(No Transcript)
43
(No Transcript)
44

• The most valuable thing I learned throughout
  this entire experience is how much impact a group
  of students and a professor can have. I feel I
  have lived most of my life in a bubble that has
  kept me unaware of real problems occurring within
  my hometown and the Stevens Point community. We
  may be one small class but we have impacted the
  lives of many.
  -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

45
(No Transcript)
46
(No Transcript)
47
(No Transcript)
48
(No Transcript)
49
(No Transcript)
50
(No Transcript)
51
(No Transcript)
52
(No Transcript)
53
(No Transcript)
54
(No Transcript)
55
(No Transcript)
56
(No Transcript)
57
(No Transcript)
58
(No Transcript)
59

• I think that I underestimated the power of
  doing good for someone besides myself prior to
  this class. I would not have realized this and
  may never have volunteered for this organization
  and found out how great it is had I not taken
  Positive Psychology. I feel that of all my
  psychology classes, this class was the best as it
  concerned real life applications. I am glad to
  have had the opportunity to consider myself and
  others in ways that I had not thought of before,
  to have discovered strengths in myself that I did
  not know I had, and all the while have been doing
  good for others in the process.
  -UWSP Positive Psychology
  Student

60
Coming Together
Positive Psychology Brings Together The
Salvation Army and Habitat to make the most
well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony yet
61
(No Transcript)
62
(No Transcript)
63
(No Transcript)
64
(No Transcript)
65
(No Transcript)
66
(No Transcript)
67
(No Transcript)
68
(No Transcript)
69
(No Transcript)
70
(No Transcript)
71
(No Transcript)
72
(No Transcript)
73
(No Transcript)
74

• The implementation of service-learning in this
  class made a big impact on my life. I was able to
  see how positive psychology is all around me, not
  just when I do service-learning work. Now that I
  know what it is I can see it in many different
  aspects of my life, such as home, school, work,
  and recreational activities. All in all, the
  service-learning project was definitely worth
  while. I feel very grateful and that is one of
  the best feelings there is.
• -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

75

• I felt like an adult this semester. I realized
  that with the help of friends or classmates that
  support the same cause, we can really get a lot
  done. The highlight by far was planning our own
  fundraisers, using our strengths in a positive
  way, and coming out extremely successful. I would
  never change this experience.I have learned so
  much that has changed me for the better, now and
  throughout the future.
• -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

76
Brat Sale!
77
(No Transcript)
78
(No Transcript)
79
(No Transcript)
80
(No Transcript)
81
(No Transcript)
82
(No Transcript)
83
(No Transcript)
84
Penny War!
85
(No Transcript)
86
(No Transcript)
87
(No Transcript)
88
Kiddie Carnival
89
(No Transcript)
90
(No Transcript)
91
(No Transcript)
92
(No Transcript)
93
(No Transcript)
94
(No Transcript)
95
(No Transcript)
96
(No Transcript)
97
(No Transcript)
98
(No Transcript)
99
(No Transcript)
100
(No Transcript)
101
Silent Auction
102
(No Transcript)
103
(No Transcript)
104
Pointstock '07 Benefit Concert
105
(No Transcript)
106
Mark Little and Dan Mitchell
107
(No Transcript)
108
(No Transcript)
109
SHAWN WOLFE
110
(No Transcript)
111
(No Transcript)
112
ICE CREAM SOCIALIST
113
(No Transcript)
114
(No Transcript)
115
(No Transcript)
116
(No Transcript)
117
(No Transcript)
118
(No Transcript)
119
(No Transcript)
120
(No Transcript)
121
(No Transcript)
122
(No Transcript)
123
(No Transcript)
124
(No Transcript)
125
(No Transcript)
126
(No Transcript)
127
(No Transcript)
128
(No Transcript)
129

• Without the hands-on element, I dont think the
  material would have seemed as believable or as
  relevant to me. I am a pretty deep-seated
  pessimist! If I hadnt been able to tangibly see
  the effects of the theories we discussed, I dont
  know that I would have believed in them. I
  probably would have done a lot of explaining away
  in an attempt to justify pessimism as more
  realistic. But seeing these things work first
  hand made it impossible for me to do that!
• -UWSP Positive Psychology Student

130

• Our class has gone above and beyond what was
  expected we have organized many fundraising
  events as well as donated our time and even some
  supplies. We were able to apply what we learned
  in class to our experiences, as we could see
  particular theories and concepts at play, thereby
  gaining a greater understanding. We saw
  differences in our emotions and were able to
  enjoy the resulting positive emotions. The
  community partners and the clients we served were
  positively affected by our efforts as well.
  

131

• Total Number of Students Involved 35
• Total Hours Worked On-Site 425
• Total Hours Worked for Fundraising 75
• Total Hours Worked for Ribbon-Cutting 15
• Ave. Hours Worked Per Student 14.5 (requirement
  10)
• Total Money Raised 2700.00
• Number of Organizational Sponsorships 9
• Biolife Plasma Services, Wal-Mart, Holiday Inn,
• Copps Food Center, County Market,
• Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Session 74,
• Dunn Entertainment

132

• As a result of her
• service-learning participation, one Positive
  Psychology student became the
• Family Selection Coordinator
• at Habitat for Humanity
• for 2007-2009
• (and possibly beyond!)

133

• This experience was a surprising one on many
  fronts.  It was great to see how much a group of
  motivated college students could accomplish.  It
  was touching to experience the way they went
  above and beyond to help.   Whats more is how it
  affected me.  I was surprised to see how inspired
  I became just being around their energy and
  enthusiasm, it really is contagious.  Thank you
  for inspiring me, and may the wonderful
  opportunity we have to partner again not only
  build on last semesters success but also serve
  as an example of what can be accomplished through
  service learning projects.  
• -Steve Decker, Board Member Central
  Wisconsin Habitat for Humanity

134

• Central Wisconsin Habitat for Humanity
  continues to receive wonderful support from
  UWSP.  The students from Positive Psychology were
  instrumental in assisting Habitat in the
  construction of our latest home.  If Habitat was
  as instrumental in helping to instill the
  altruistic volunteer spirit in the students, then
  our mission has truly been fulfilled.
• -Tom Macak, President
• Central Wisconsin Habitat for Humanity

135

• I really liked this service-learning project
  and think it should be mandatory that every
  college student take this class before they leave
  college. This is a class that makes you a better
  person without you even realizing it. This
  Positive Psychology course brings out the best in
  you by allowing you to find your strengths and
  capitalize on them. I am very thankful for this
  class and the service-learning project because it
  touched my heart the way no other college course
  has. Because of this class, I have never been
  happier in my life. For this, I am very
  grateful. -UWSP Positive Psychology
  Student

136

• Never doubt that a small group of committed
  people can change the world. Indeed, it is the
  only thing that ever has.
• -Margaret Mead

137

• You may not have changed the whole world, but you
  surely helped to make it a better place for some
  in our community.
• Just think what a wonderful world it would be if
  everyone cared and took the time to help others.
• Thank you for all your hard work this semester.
  Good luck in your future endeavors. I will miss
  you all.
• With Gratitude,
• Dr.
  Magyar-Moe

138

• Positive Psychology
• University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
• Spring 2007
• Reflections on
• Service - Learning

139
Conclusions

• Applied Activities, Assignments, Examples, and
  Videos
• Affords students the opportunity to do more than
  what they expect when they initially enter the
  classroom.
• In the process of learning to think critically
  about a growing area of psychology, they are able
  to experience self-discovery, personal growth,
  and civic engagement, lessons that students are
  not likely to forget.

140
(No Transcript)