Thomas Strengths Based Approach: Know Yourself & Develop Others

22/W 1:00 PM Newman

Type_Presentation: 3-Hour Pre-conference Institute

PresentationTitle: Strengths Based Approach: Know Yourself & Develop Others

ProgramStrand_Primary: Learning and Study Strategies

ProgramStrand_Secondary: Freshman Year Experience

Presentation_description:

What can we do as educators to help our students overcome thoughts of: How did I get here? Did they make a mistake letting me in? This pre-conference institute will allow the participants to take a strengths inventory, understand what a strengths based approach is, and will explore the various vehicles to bring this back to their campus: academic coaching, freshman seminar, and professional development.

Purpose:

Positive psychology is a field that should hold much interest for educators, as we look toward what will enhance our students' motivation to learn. This session will allow participants to explore their own strengths. Through my experience with students I have found that a strengths-based approach gives a student validation and direction when they need it the most.

Learning Objectives:

Understand strengths based approach

Bust the myths about strengths and weaknesses

Have participants identify strengths through activities

Include practical ways that participants can "take home" the strengths based approach

Significance to the field:

Personally, this workshop can be fulfilling to those who need to be rejuvinated and encouraged to continue to use their strengths on a day to day basis. Professionally, this can open up educators' eyes as to how to incorporate strengths into their programs.

Outline of Content

A) Overview of positive psychology and strengths based approach

B) Bust the myths about strengths and weaknesses

C) Participants will get clear about their specific strengths

D) 5 Clues to a strength

E) Review of different resources available on strengths, including: Gallup/StrengthsQuest,

StrengthFinder 2.0, Marcus Buckingham with Go Put Your Strengths to Work, and the Values In Action (VIA) website.

F) Help participants identify strengths through activity

G) Review the various outlets that we (UTSA) has used for incorporating strengths in academic coaching, freshman seminar, at-risk intervention, and professional development

Audience interaction & engagement:

Participants will have the opportunity to take the StrengthsQuest inventory online (ahead of time) and we will talk through several strengths based activities that they could later implement.

Media & Instructional materials:

Each participant will recieve a folder with materials from StrengthsQuest, including the free code to take the inventory ($15 value), pen, lanyard, and Quick Reference card of themes. Additionally, I will include a copy of the PPT I am presenting and any other handouts needed for the interactive activities.

Instructor's experience with topic:

I have been coaching and presenting to students about these topics for over two years now and have been a strengths-based instructor for two years. The freshman seminar course that I teach revolved around StrengthsFinder 2.0, StrengthsQuest, Go Put Your Strengths to Work, Living with Your Strengths, and Teach with your Strengths.

PresenterBio:

Melissa Thomas is Program Coordinator for Graduate Student Learning Assistance, Principal Investigator for a grant on graduate student success, and teaches a Freshman Seminar, all for the University of Texas at San Antonio. With a J.D. from the University of Texas her research interests include strengths based curriculm, public policy implications on education, conflict resolution education, and writing instruction on the graduate level.