In May 2019 the Bavarian International School gAG (BIS) hosted a discussion exploring the theme: ‘How the learning and teaching methods of Positive Psychology (PP) work’.The discussion, on 7 May 2019, focused on the effects of positive psychology in school education. At the ‘BeInSp!red City Talk’, employers of the future, such as Google and Hubert Burda Media, together with the Technical University of Munich and the educational company The School of Life, discussed the application of the new learning and teaching method.

BeInspired City Talk

This was the third time the Bavarian International School gAG (BIS) has hosted the BeInSp!red City Talk, an international forum for the exchange of business, science and research and politics. The aim of the event, which is open to the public, is to provide regular discussions about the future of children's education and to promote exchange, know-how and new trends among education experts in the Munich region.The topic of the event was ‘Positive Education – Positive Leadership’. The Positive Psychology (PP) approach to education focuses on the wellbeing of students. Mental health, inner peace, empathy and empowerment-based learning are indispensable qualities for successful and balanced living and working in the world of tomorrow.Dr Chrissie Sorenson, Head of School and Managing Board of BIS said, "Negative emotions are currently outnumbering school and learning places: depression, burnout, bullying, ADHD. It is therefore imperative to fundamentally rethink school systems, learning and teaching methods, in order to have a positive effect on the personality development of our children. The approach of the PP is refreshingly different and relies on the elemental: only by joy of life can you also develop learning joy! "

Strengthening positive feelings, commitment and motivation

Martin Seligmann, the founder of the PP approach, focused on strengthening positive feelings, commitment and motivation, positive relationships and success. Consequently, this new approach does not focus on deficits in clinical psychology, as it has up to now, but instead focuses on what essentially enhances the wellbeing of people. So far, Australia has incorporated the approach into its school system, aspects have been taken over in the Anglo-American area, and in Germany private schools occasionally devote themselves to a new perspective on learning and teaching.Dr Martin Ebeling, philosopher and head of the education company, The School of Life for Business in Berlin, took the guests of the BIS City Talk 2019 on a philosophical journey on the power of positive thinking with his lecture, ‘Leveraging the power of positive leadership for personal and professional success’. The ‘school of life’ is convinced that emotional growth is the key to more efficiency and engagement of employees of the future."Good leaders do not turn into good leaders because they use a certain technique, but because they mature as human beings," said Dr Ebeling.The keynote speech culminated in an open, interactive BIS City Talk panel discussion on the future of education with a number of industry experts. 

BIS - Believe. Inspire. Succeed.

Bavarian International School gAG (BIS) is a non-profit organization with two campus locations (Haimhausen and Munich - Leopoldstr.). 1,200 children and adolescents from 52 nations between the ages of 3 and 18 attend the recognized IB World School.For more information visit: www.bis-school.com

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