Learning and Well-Being
What is well-being?
Well-being can be defined as a state of being physically, socially and emotionally comfortable and healthy. Well-being is a critical pre-condition for learning, particularly when we consider the neuroscience of learning and complex thought. Below, we first explore the relationship between the brain, learning, stress and the "fight or flight" response, before we introduce some apps that can be used with students to both teach some useful wellness skills, while also preparing them to learn in general.
Learning and Well-being
"As the world faces this unparalleled challenge, the critical role that schools play in supporting the health and well-being of learners, and indeed the whole school community, through school health and well-being programs, has become more appreciated than ever. " - Fullan, Quinn, Drummy and, Gardner
Stress and the Brain
Crisis and stress are two mutually supportive mental stressors that affect the ability to think, reflect, and learn effectively and can alter our sense of self and raise fears in multiple specters.
For students to learn effectively, they must be able to work out of the frontal cortex: the region of the brain responsible for complex thought, problem solving, and personality. Stress directly impedes this process, by keeping students in a "fight or flight" activity dominated by the limbic system. Thus, for students to learn effectively, they must be able to manage stress effectively.
A LOOK AT THE LIMBIC SYSTEM
The Limbic system is found in the inner core of the frontal brain. It is a collection of structures involved in processing emotion and memory, including the hippocampus, the amygdala, and the hypothalamus. The limbic system is thought to be an important element in the body’s response to stress ("fight or flight") by governing emotions and behaviors such as desire, fear, addiction, sex, long term memory and crisis reactions.
When overstimulated by stress or other stimulants the limbic system can impede the activities of the frontal lobes, which support the creative and critical thinking necessary for meaningful learning which will result in adverse decision making and rash behavior (Guy-Evans, O. (2021). Limbic System)
Managing Stress in a Crisis
Managing stress and maintaining well-being in the time of crisis requires self care. Different types of self care include:
Physical self care: eat well and wisely, get adequate sleep and exercise on a regular basis
Social self care: maintain contact whether through computer, phone or face to face if possible. Contact with others ensures a healthy mind, self image and fosters feeling connected to others
Mental self care: for stimulation of learning through games, reading, on-line studies and discussion with others
Spiritual self care: this means knowing how to deal with uncomfortable emotions, like anger, anxiety, and sadness. Emotional self-care may include activities that help you acknowledge and express your feelings on a regular basis. Incorporate activities into your life that leave you re-charged.
In a mobile world, many apps, games and m-learning courses exist to support self care and well being. We have curated some of the most popular mobile technologies below that may be used by young children and families to teenagers and adults.
Mobile Tech to support physical well-being
As discussed above, physical well-being is crucial to learning. Because of this, mobile technology may be used to support various elements of physical health and well-being. Apps that support exercise, cooking and eating nutritious food, and sleeping well is a few examples. Some apps that we have used to support student physical well-being can be explored further below!
"With Down Dog you get a brand new yoga practice every time you come to your mat. Unlike following pre-recorded videos, Down Dog won’t make you do the same workout over and over again. With over 60,000 different configurations, Down Dog gives you the power to build a yoga practice you love!"
"Welcome to the next evolution of our app – introducing feel better by deliciously ella, helping you discover delicious ways to feel better every day....Using our holistic, science backed approach we’re here to help you with the four pillars of health: plant-based recipes, movement classes, mindfulness and meditation, and sleep. Updated weekly, feel better, will help you discover new & delicious ways to feel better every day, no matter where you are on your wellness journey."
"Sleep better and wake up rested with Sleep Cycle’s smart alarm clock. It analyzes your sleep patterns and detects snoring, sleep talking, coughing and other sounds.
Start your day feeling energized with Sleep Cycle’s intelligent alarm clock, designed to gently wake you up while you’re in your lightest sleep phase. Plus, you’ll get a detailed analysis as our sleep tracker monitors your bedtime patterns from the moment your head hits the pillow, and access to premium features including relaxing sleep sounds and story library"
"Wakeout is a wellness app that uses movement to improve your life. Named App of the Year in 2020 by Apple.
Movement has the power to heal, relax, energize, empower and make us happier. With over 1,800 unique ways to move for over 35 different situations, you'll find just what you need."
"Build healthy habits that stick with MyFitnessPal, the easiest all-in-one calorie and macro tracker.
MyFitnessPal has the biggest food database available, with over 14 million foods to help you accurately log everything you eat."
"Meet your new cooking coach! Over 4000 Tasty recipes now at your fingertips; an innovative Step-By-Step instruction mode; a ‘My Recipes’ page which serves as your very own mobile cookbook, and an incredible Search tool that allows you to filter by any ingredients, cuisine and social occasion you’re in the mood for!"
Mobile Tech to support Social Well-being
As discussed above, social well-being is crucial to learning. Because of this, mobile technology can be used to support connection, community, and socializing during times of possible isolation. Some apps that we have used to support student social well-being can be explored further below!
"Viber is the FREE, simple, fast and most secure messaging and calling app. The messenger of choice for over 1 billion users worldwide! Text now for free and make high-quality crystal-clear phone calls."
"Join the PopJam creative community! Create and share art, play games, watch videos, take quizzes and find and follow everything you love from aesthetic art to influencers to gamers to fidgets to slime! PopJam is all about creativity and community. You can create and share art and memes, all inside communities of people who love the same things you do."
"Edmodo gives teachers the tools to share engaging lessons, keep parents updated, and build a vibrant classroom community.
The all-new Edmodo app has been redesigned from the ground up to focus on how YOU communicate with your students, parents, and fellow teachers."
Mobile Tech to support Mental and Spiritual well-being
As discussed above, mental and spiritual well-being is crucial to learning. Because of this, mobile technology must not only serve as a vehicle for the delivery of content but must also be a means to afford students opportunities to learn and practice mindful self-care. Some apps that we have used to support student wellness can be explored further below!
Developed by Neuroscientist and author Sam Harris, this app is designed to promote better self-knowledge and mindfulness in action to lower stress and facilitate more conscious living. Pros include the daily mindfulness prompts for reflection and skill-based courses, while the primary con is the $129 yearly subscription fee.
Calm is a free app (albeit with pay-to-access content) that has a variety of seasonal and celebrity meditations that can be freely accessed via Android and IOS. Pros are the variety of free content available and celebrities to inspire kids, while cons are the lack of structure to organize meditations without paying for premium playlists.
Although the app follows a paid subscription model, plenty of its video content is freely available on Youtube for both desktop and mobile platforms. Playlists are available in multiple languages as well as for educators specifically, and educators can easily create custom playlists to develop student social-emotional competencies.
"EXHALE is an emotional well-being app designed for Black, Indigenous, Women of Color (BIWOC).
It's time to exhale - to let go of all that isn't serving you and breathe in life, energy, healing, and love. The practices in this app are what we call "soul medicine"- medicine for the depths of our souls."
Stress-Free Games
"Sometimes, it's nice to step away from rigid K/D ratios, chokeholds and pixel-perfect parries. In this video, we'll be rounding up nine calming, uber-chill PC games to play when the world seems like it's too much."
Art Therapy for Stress
Journal of the American Art Therapy Association found that just 45 minutes of creative activity can reduce your stress, regardless of artistic experience or talent (2020). Art impacts -
Acts as a form of self-care: Sometimes, with all of life’s responsibilities, we forget that we need and deserve downtime.
Helps you tap into a "state of flow": Some psychologists describe flow as becoming deeply engrossed in an activity. Similar to meditation, flow can improve performance and lower stress.
Takes your mind off things: Creating art can take your mind off of whatever is stressing you, at least for a few minutes. It's difficult to keep ruminating on your problems when you're focused on creating. You can incorporate what is bothering you in to your art
Suggestions: Dream journals, draw what you feel, keep a gratitude journal to recall acts or faces of kindness
If none above work, seeking a therapist is a supportive act and speeds up stress alleviation.
Mobile Tech to support Art Therapy
"Drawing Pad is a mobile art studio for all ages! Create your own art using photo-realistic crayons, markers, paint brushes, colored pencils, stickers, roller pens and more!"
"Exclusive artistically created brushes, from real world art mediums through to the purely digital for all styles of artwork. Watch fluid Watercolor flow and run as you paint. Express your strokes in 3D giving thick gloopy paint you can even etch back into."
"If you think you suck at drawing, try Doodle Buddy. You’ll be surprised at the amazing stuff you can make. If you’re already into drawing, you’ll have fun with Doodle Buddy too. It’s a simple, artistic medium that’s not quite like anything else. Stretch yourself within its constraints, and see what you can make. Doodle Buddy is where art meets fun."
“Loved by creative professionals, Procreate has everything you need to create expressive sketches, rich paintings, gorgeous illustrations and beautiful animations. Procreate is the complete art studio you can take anywhere, packed with unique features and intuitive creative tools.”.L