How Thanking Awakens Our Thinking: Kerry Howells at TEDxLaunceston

Dr Kerry Howells suggests that the key to creating fully engaged learners is to create an attitude of gratitude.

In order to fully realise her passion to teach to the totally engaged, or 'awake' learner, Dr Kerry Howells has developed a unique approach over the past two decades where traditional teaching and learning practices are enhanced by greater attention to practices of gratitude. Kerry is an academic and teacher educator in the Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania where she teaches in the areas of educational philosophy and professional studies. Her broad research areas are teacher identity and student engagement. Dr Howells' recent book, Gratitude in Education: A Radical View, has been hailed by reviewers as "groundbreaking".

Kerry has introduced her approach in invited presentations at seven universities and ten schools, many of which have subsequently participated in her research. Since joining the University of Tasmania in 2006, she has received nine teaching awards, including three national awards. Kerry's aim in presenting at TEDx is to share her passion for generating this truly 'awake' state in learning and teaching.

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)