Join leading awe researcher, Dacher Keltner, and the Greater Good Science Center's Education team in exploring how to apply the cutting-edge science of awe in classrooms and schools. Learn how awe enhances academic learning, motivation, and student and teacher well-being—and how you can create inspiring educational environments, filled with curiosity, discovery, and "awesome" possibility.

Through thirteen resource-rich modules, you will learn about the eight wonders of awe, explore how awe benefits our brains and bodies, and find real-life examples and practices to help you bring more inspiration, meaning, and purpose to your students. 

 

Course Features

• 13 modules, approximately 6-10 hours of learning, depending on engagement with supporting materials
• Videos featuring talks by Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., UC Berkeley psychology professor, co-founder of the Greater Good Science Center, and author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, Born to Be Good and The Power Paradox.
• Videos featuring interviews with educators on their experience bringing awe into classrooms and staff meetings
• Over 30 ready-to-use research-based awe practices for students and the adults who work with them
• Downloadable slides on the science of awe for classroom use or professional development
• Downloadable awe journal for use by students of all ages and education professionals
• Discussion board for sharing ideas and reflections on bringing awe into classrooms and schools
• Option to register for a 5-session virtual Community of Practice, Exploring Awe and Well-Being in Classrooms and Schools—an online community of educators interested in creating awe-filled classrooms. Session 1 special guest: Dacher Keltner

 

Course Curriculum

The course is designed for busy education professionals. Each module has a short video (~4 to 8 minutes long) that provides brief instruction on one aspect of the science of awe, followed by reflection questions. The remainder of the module focuses on practical application, providing numerous resources for incorporating awe into classrooms and schools and allowing course participants to pick and choose what they would like to try.

The course content will roll out over several weeks:

October 2, 2023 

• Module 1: What is awe?
• Module 2: Why do we need awe?
• Module 3: Do all students (and teachers) experience awe?
• Module 4: Awe and young people

October 16, 2023

• Module 5: Awe Wonder #1: Transcendence and Meaning
• Module 6: Awe Wonder #2: Big Ideas/Systems Thinking

October 30, 2023

• Module 7: Awe Wonder #3: Nature
• Module 8: Awe Wonder #4: Life Cycle

November 13, 2023

• Module 9: Awe Wonder #5: Moral Beauty
• Module 10: Awe Wonder #6: Visual Design

November 27, 2023

• Module 11: Awe Wonder #7: Collective Effervescence
• Module 12: Awe Wonder #8: Music
• Module 13: Bringing awe into classrooms and schools

 

Course Outcomes

Participants will:

• Define awe
• Reflect on the role of awe in your personal and professional life
• Identify the benefits of awe to self and others, including students
• Describe how awe can enhance academic learning, motivation, and well-being
• Use and/or develop resources to foster awe in one’s self, students, and/or colleagues
• Apply culturally-responsive and trauma-informed lenses to awe in classroom and schools

 

Course Logistics

Who Should Take This Course?

• Classroom teachers (preK through higher education), paraeducators, and out-of-school-time providers
• School mental health professionals and counselors
• School, district, and college-level administrators
• Homeschooling communities
• Educators from nature-led learning, alternative schools, and arts education

Course Cost

The Greater Good Science Center is funded entirely by donations and grants—we do not receive any financial support from the University of California, Berkeley. However, we are able to offer many of our GGSC resources for free because we charge for some of our courses. We do our best to make our courses and events affordable for everyone, but realize that “affordable” can mean vastly different things depending on individual or geographic circumstances. Therefore, we are offering sliding scale rates for this course. 

We do not ask for income verification; we trust that students will be honest about their financial situation. Please be mindful that if you purchase the course at the lower cost when you can truthfully afford the higher cost, you are limiting access to those who truly need the gift of financial flexibility. It also respects the work we do, and our desire to offer many other free resources to educators. 

Please choose the rate that best matches your financial situation. If you are not sure which price level is appropriate for your circumstances, we’ve provided some guidance below:

$179 (Supporter Rate):

This cost reflects the cost of the course, as well as a willingness and ability to support the work and mission of Greater Good in Education and allows those with fewer resources to participate in this course. Please consider paying this rate if you have access to financial security, are able to pay freely for “wants,” or have ample support from your school or organization. Purchase the course at the base rate of $129 and make a donation to GGSC so we can continue to offer our free/affordable resources.

$129 (Base Rate):

This cost reflects the true cost of the course, and is what we would charge all students in the absence of a sliding scale. Please pay this rate if you have access to financial security in the form of income or savings or do not stress about meeting your basic needs. Also, consider whether or not your school or organization can provide financial support for you to access the course. 

$59 (Reduced Rate):

This cost reflects our acknowledgment that there are people whose economic circumstances would prevent them from having access to this course if expected to pay the full amount. Please pay this rate if you do not currently have financial security and/or regularly feel stress over meeting yours or your family’s basic needs. USE THE CODE “AWEREDUCED” AT CHECKOUT TO APPLY THIS RATE.

If the reduced rate is still prohibitive and you need additional support, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at ggsceducation@berkeley.edu. 

$25 (Low and Middle Income Countries Rate):

This cost reflects our acknowledgement that the economic levels among countries vary greatly. Please pay this rate if you come from a country recognized by the World Bank as Low or Middle Income. We also recognize that there is great wealth disparity within countries, so if you come from one of these countries, but have the financial means to pay a higher rate, please consider doing so. USE THE CODE “COUNTRIES” AT CHECKOUT TO APPLY THIS RATE.

Acknowledgement to Alexis J. Cunningfolk for guidance around sliding scale fee language.

To encourage groups of educators from the same school or community to attend together, we are also offering a discount for school cohorts. If you are enrolling a group of educators from the same school or community, you can use the code "TOGETHER" to receive $20 off of each enrollment.

You may also reach out to us at ggsceducation@berkeley.edu to discuss additional payment options.

 

Course Instructor

Dacher Keltner, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Greater Good Science Center and a professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the best-selling author of Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life, The Power Paradox: How We Gain and Lose Influence, and Born to Be Good, and a co-editor of The Compassionate Instinct. Dacher is the host of the Greater Good Science Center’s award-winning podcast, The Science of Happiness, and is a co-instructor of the GGSC’s popular online course of the same name. 

 

Course Facilitator

Vicki Zakrzewski (zahk-shef-skee), Ph.D., is the founding education director of the Greater Good Science Center. As an international thought leader on the science of well-being in education, Vicki writes articles (Greater Good, ASCD’s Educational Leadership, Edutopia, and Huffington Post), gives talks and workshops all over the world, and consults with schools and organizations on how the science of compassion, empathy, gratitude, mindfulness, and other social, emotional, and ethical skills can enhance the professional lives of educators and the lives of their students. More about Vicki Zakrzewski.