Introduction
Research Schools International ( RSI ), the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard , and Sevenoaks School have created this booklet to share evidence-based practices that support student flourishing in school .
RSI carries out research and professional development with schools around the world to support character skills and flourishing . The Human Flourishing Program at Harvard studies and promotes human flourishing . Sevenoaks is a school in the UK that serves as a thought leader in flourishing in schools . We collaborate to promote education for flourishing .
In partnership with the OECD , RSI and the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard identified interventions and initiatives that research suggests have the potential to promote wellbeing in students across ages and cultures .
These practices , which are reviewed in this booklet , include : initiatives that foster close social relationships , character skill interventions and programmes , physical activity , learning activities that cultivate meaning and purpose , music and the arts , service learning , playfulness and humour , and connecting with nature .
In a pioneering project , RSI partnered with Sevenoaks to explore student flourishing and these practices at the school . This research project identified strengths and areas for growth in nurturing students ’ flourishing . Our research team then collaborated with all of the educators at Sevenoaks to create and implement practices that targeted areas for growth identified by the study . The illustrative examples in this booklet are drawn from our research together .
RSI and the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard have since carried out research and professional development on practices to promote student wellbeing in schools across 70 countries .
Dr Christina Hinton
Dr Christina Hinton
Dr Christina Hinton leads the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard ’ s work in education . At Harvard , she leads research on character skills , loving relationships , and flourishing among children , adolescents , educators and parents internationally . In addition , she leads the Evidence-Based Parenting for Flourishing Families initiative .
Dr Hinton is also the Founder and CEO of Research Schools International ( RSI ).
Prior to her current roles , Dr Hinton was a faculty member at Harvard Graduate School of Education , lecturing on neuroscience and education and social-emotional learning .
In addition , she worked in multilateral diplomacy and international policymaking at the OECD ’ s Center for Educational Research and Innovation and UNICEF ’ s Early Childhood Development unit . She was also a Research Fellow at Sesame Workshop .
Dr Hinton completed her doctorate and master ’ s at Harvard in education , neuroscience , and child development , and her batchelor ’ s at Swarthmore in neuroscience and education .
For a full literature review on these practices , along with a list of references for all of the research mentioned in this booklet , please scan this QR code .
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