smartEducation: Developing Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques

  • Karen Ragoonaden University of British Columbia
Keywords: smartEducation (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques), mindfulness, education, self-care, resilience, pre-service teacher

Abstract

smartEducation (Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques) is a mindfulness-based professional learning initiative positioned in a Faculty of Education of a Western Canadian university. Following similar evidence-based initiatives of mindfulness in education, the smartEducation curriculum comprises nine sessions offered in a variety of face-to-face, intensive, and blended formats. This renewal program supports the development of self-care techniques to cultivate personal and professional resilience through a greater understanding and control of breath, movement, and the physiology of emotions. The 20-hour program consists of eight two-hour sessions and a four-hour silent retreat. This article provides an overview of the research supporting mindfulness in education and presents the results of a pilot study conducted with preservice teachers enrolled in the smartEducation course.

Author Biography

Karen Ragoonaden, University of British Columbia

Karen Ragoonaden is a faculty member in Education at UBC’s Okanagan campus. Her work in the conceptualization and development of the smartEducation program focuses on integrating mindfulness initiatives in education (MBI). The sessions, conceptualized as non-credit and accredited courses, aim to develop and sustain the health and well-being of professionals in educational and therapeutic contexts. An ancillary aim of this MBI is to implement mindfulness programs in several sectors, promoting a network of collaborations, and sustainable practices. Linked with research expertise across disciplines, derivatives of smartEducation include smartNursing and smartUBC.

Published
2017-07-07
How to Cite
Ragoonaden, K. (2017). smartEducation: Developing Stress Management and Resiliency Techniques. LEARNing Landscapes, 10(2), 241-255. https://doi.org/10.36510/learnland.v10i2.813