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Category: Project

Description: Holistic development, encompassing physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth, is vital for children's well-being and long-term success. India's commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4.7), has sparked efforts towards inclusive and equitable quality education, focusing on social-emotional learning (SEL) interventions. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 underscores the importance of nurturing well-rounded individuals capable of rational thought, compassionate action, and empathetic understanding. Among the notable interventions is the introduction of the happiness curriculum in government schools in Delhi, aiming to cultivate happiness, self-awareness, critical thinking, and positive social behaviour. This exhibit will be based on a study that explores a unique research method to understand how children in 6th to 8th grade perceive happiness in Indian government schools. The ongoing mixed methods study, funded by Mind and Life Institute, investigates children's and teachers' perspectives on social-emotional learning, their experiences and the impact of the happiness curriculum on them as well as the processes underlying the implementation of the curriculum. A key aspect of the study is that it uses the photovoice method, a participatory approach that involves providing children with cameras to document their experiences. Children were asked to click pictures within the school related to whatever brings them happiness. They were later shown their photographs and asked to describe why they clicked those pictures. The exhibit will showcase the analysis of these photos unveiling children’s diverse perspectives on happiness. Preliminary findings from the study highlight various sources of happiness, such as nature, open spaces, things that remind them about their childhood and information that instils civic sense. By showcasing the outcomes of the study, this exhibit addresses a crucial topic of social-emotional learning in education. It highlights the unique, cost-effective, yet powerful photo voice method to assess children's perceptions of happiness in India. This participatory approach promotes inclusivity and creativity in research and education underscoring the importance of prioritising stakeholders' voices and experiences in measuring socio-emotional learning. The findings contribute to the broader conversation on holistic development and serve as a catalyst for further exploration of innovative research methods in assessing socio-emotional learning in diverse educational contexts. This art exhibit will provide an engaging platform to showcase the narratives captured through the photo voice method, showcasing the power of visual storytelling in articulating children's perspectives on happiness. By incorporating children's narratives and experiences, we challenge the traditional notions of understanding curriculum experiences and emphasise the need for inclusive and participatory approaches in curriculum development, where children's perspectives and well-being take centre stage.