Opistotarinat avaa Tampereen seudun työväenopiston arkea, ammattiryhmien työtä ja ainealueita. Minkälaista työ ja opiskelu vapaan sivistystyön parissa on? Miten ajankohtaiset ilmiöt näkyvät opistossa?
Marianne Laakso, an ICT course coordinator at The Adult Education Centre of the Tampere Region, embarked on her Erasmus+ trip with a curious mind. The aim of the Positive Thinking, Communication and School Spaces course was to strengthen a positive attitude towards the educational institution and education in general.
– I wanted to learn how to increase positive thinking and interaction and reduce negative self-talk. In practice, this meant daily exercises that helped get to know others and create a positive atmosphere. One effective exercise was to ask oneself at the end of the day what three things went well and then share one of these successes with others.
Laakso found that the course group bonded quickly, creating a particularly conducive atmosphere for working and adopting new habits.
– I noticed how easy it is to get to know new people, work together, and have discussions. New practices, such as calming situations through mindfulness, were eye-opening. We also talked a lot about respecting others, asking positive questions, and the harmfulness of multitasking to oneself and the environment.
Positive thinking does not mean uncritical acceptance or closing one's eyes to areas that need improvement.
– Positive thinking is healthy thinking, and it doesn't mean that everything is always positive, Laakso points out.
She believes that the skill of positive discussion and other things learned on the course will be evident to the students, staff, and the entire organization of the Adult Education Centre.
– This course experience reinforced my belief that positivity is a resource that can truly change the atmosphere of education and learning.
Laakso also hopes that everyone can find their own way to practice positivity and spread it around them.
– Happiness is a state of mind that we can all practice and share."
Erasmus+ – Invigorating Workflow is a project funded by the European Union. The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors of this text and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the Finnish National Agency for Education. The European Union and the granting authority are not responsible for them.
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