Course Syllabus

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🌟 Our Guiding Light

To cultivate the Wisdom to see the intricate patterns of well-being, the Understanding to appreciate its depth, and the Courage to nurture flourishing systems – within ourselves, in our connections, and in the wider world.

 

🏞️ Our Flourishing Quest

A heartfelt welcome to you, fellow explorers of the human spirit! Forget what you think a psychology course has to be. This is an invitation to a unique adventure – a journey that takes us beyond the familiar signposts of Positive Psychology into new and exciting territories of understanding. Together, we'll delve into the beautiful, often surprising, and wonderfully intricate dance of well-being. Our most profound discovery? That "happiness” isn't a static destination we arrive at, but rather an ever-unfolding symphony, a breathtaking masterpiece that emerges from the dynamic and deeply interconnected systems of our lives.

Imagine us as curious detectives and compassionate gardeners. Drawing on the heart of Positive Psychology, the illuminating insights of Systems Thinking, the deep wisdom of your own Embodied Cognition, and a shared spirit of Critical Inquiry, our collective mission is to understand and cultivate the conditions that allow individuals, communities, and our world to sprout and flourish.

Prepare to see yourself, the rich tapestry of Danish culture that surrounds us, and the wider world with fresh eyes, a curious mind, and an open heart. This is more than a course; it's an exploration in seeing, understanding, and becoming. Let's begin!

👋 Your Fellow Explorer & Facilitator

Hi there! I'm so genuinely excited to embark on this learning adventure with you. My world is a vibrant fusion of cognitive science, art, technology, and a deep-seated passion for creating engaging, community-centered learning experiences that spark surprising serendipitous moments.

• 🎨 Innovating at the Intersection of Art, Emotion & Tech: My journey includes being a "tech wizard artist" at Denmark's science museum, Experimentarium, where I designed an interactive art piece for the "Future Humans" exhibition. Imagine a futuristic blind date where visitors explored new emotional modalities using biosensors – a creative dive into how technology might shape future human connection and understanding. This fascination with emotion science, algorithms, and new sensory experiences is a core thread in my work.
• 🎭 A Teacher with a Passion for Transformative Learning: Beyond this course, I also have the joy of leading "The Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity" and "The Cognitive Neuroscience of Consciousness" here at DIS. My background includes teaching roles at CBS (Natural Language Processing) and Aarhus University (Study Techniques, Cognition & Communication), often choosing courses I felt could be reimagined into more dynamic and valuable student adventures. I aim to make our classroom an exciting "team sport" with a flat hierarchy.
• 🚀 AI Enthusiast and Cognition/Community Builder:
• AI for Well-being: I currently serve as an AI Chief Advisor at the Center for Communication and Welfare Technology (CKV), focusing on how AI can enhance societal well-being. My enthusiasm for AI also led to a second-place finish in the Danish Championships of AI!
• Bridging Research, Tech & Human Experience: I've co-founded NeuroTechX Denmark (lowering the bar of entry for young cognitive researchers), developed online teaching platforms, and contributed to diverse research at Aarhus University in areas like honesty, trust, creativity, play and emotional metamemory.
• 🌍 Championing Flourishing, from Local Communities to Global Compassion: A core part of my journey is a deep-seated orientation towards co-creating vibrant, thriving communities wherever I find myself (I’d be delighted to share some stories if your curiosity is sparked!). This isn't just a local passion; it extends to a commitment to apply valuable insights for broader positive impact. This has led me to engage deeply with environmental stewardship and, to organize and contribute to humanitarian efforts, offering aid and support to those courageously navigating the challenges of war-torn regions. For me, this is where our learning truly meets the world.

Think of me as your guide and co-learner on this journey. I can't wait to meet you, explore your unique perspectives, and co-create an amazing and meaningful course experience together! ✨

 

🎯 Learning Objectives

This journey is designed to equip you with new ways of seeing, understanding, and acting. By its end, you'll be able to:

• 👁️ See with New Eyes (The Power of Systems Vision):

• • Perceive well-being – in yourself, in cultures, in societies – as a living, breathing, interconnected system. You'll learn to spot its key elements, the elegant dance of feedback loops, and how beautiful, sometimes surprising, patterns emerge.
  • Engage thoughtfully with psychological ideas, especially from Positive Psychology, with a keen awareness of cultural perspectives (like the WEIRD bias) and their wider systemic impact.
  • Become more aware of your own unique viewpoints and how they beautifully shape your understanding of what it means to flourish.

• 🧠 Understand with Depth (The Art of Integrative Knowing):

• • Artfully weave together core Positive Psychology concepts (like PERMA, character strengths, meaning, resilience) with the profound wisdom of systems thinking, embodied knowing, and critical, context-aware perspectives.
  • Articulate, with clarity and insight, how your individual flourishing is beautifully and inextricably intertwined with your relationships, community, culture, environment, and even the technology that shapes our modern lives.
  • Appreciate with an open heart that wisdom about well-being flows from many streams: rigorous science, profound philosophy, evocative art, contemplative practices, and diverse cultural traditions from around the globe.

• 💖 Act with Wisdom (The Applied Magic of Flourishing):

• • Use systemic and embodied lenses to gain deeper self-understanding and joyfully discover your own unique leverage points for personal flourishing (a journey we'll explore deeply in Assignment 3).
  • Develop and refine your innate skills in mindful observation, communicating in ways that build genuine connection (like Active-Constructive Responding), asking insightful systemic questions that open new doors, and taking actions gracefully aligned with your deepest values.
  • Envision, with creativity and courage, and propose thoughtful, "system-smart" ways to enhance flourishing within a chosen cultural or societal system (your exciting creative challenge in Assignment 2).
  • Cultivate greater psychological flexibility and emotional agility, empowering you to find meaning and act with agency, even when life feels wonderfully complex or unexpectedly challenging.
  • Engage more consciously, ethically, and joyfully with the systems you are part of, with a heart set on fostering greater well-being for yourself and the wider world we all share.

📚 Our Shared Learning Resources

Think of these as your trusted guides and the vibrant landscape for our shared exploration:

• Frankl, V. E. (2006). Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press.

• • Our North Star for this journey – a profound, recurring touchpoint for exploring meaning, resilience, and the incredible power of human choice in the face of adversity.

• Applied Positive Psychology - Integrated Positive Practise

• • Your primary textbook, offering a rich foundation. We'll treat this not just as a source of information, but as a springboard for our own critical thinking, creative explorations, and deeper discussions.

• "Essential Explorations" (Our Curated Digital Course Reader):

• • For each session, we'll dive into a carefully chosen selection of key academic articles, inspiring book excerpts, or compelling media (like insightful TED Talks or podcasts that make you go "Woooow - Cooool!"). These will be easily accessible on Canvas and are, for the most part, required preparation.
  • Why these matter: These aren't just readings; they are gateways to new ideas, designed to spark your critical thinking, ignite your curiosity, and provide the shared language for our lively and heartfelt in-class discussions and activities. I'll always share why a particular piece is a valuable gem for that day's journey.

• "Deeper Dives & Curious Wanderings" (Optional Resources):

• • Alongside our essential explorations, you'll often find invitations – further readings, videos, or podcasts – for those whose curiosity is particularly sparked by a certain topic and who are eager to jump further down the rabbit hole. These are entirely optional, a "choose your own adventure" for continued discovery.

• Your Lived Experience in Denmark: Our Living Laboratory!

• • Perhaps our most vibrant and dynamic "text" will be your own direct observations, interactions, and reflections within the fascinating culture of Denmark. I warmly encourage you to bring these unique, real-time experiences into our discussions and your assignments!

👨‍🎨 My Teaching Philosophy - Joyful Co-Creation

I believe learning is most profound and joyful when it's engaging, accessible, and honors the diverse ways each of us knows and makes sense of the world. I wholeheartedly embrace Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, which means I'm committed to offering multiple ways for you to connect with the material, understand information, and express your unique insights and brilliance. My aim is for our sessions to be a dynamic, flowing blend of illuminating mini-lectures (think more like interactive story-telling!), curious discussions where your voice is valued, interesting experiential activities that bring concepts to life, collaborative small group explorations, moments for quiet personal reflection, and plenty of room for creative expression. Imagine our classroom as a vibrant ecosystem of learning, and I'm here to help cultivate that with you!

📝 Assignments: Your Creative Quests 

These aren't just assignments; they are invitations to explore, create, and integrate your learning into something uniquely meaningful. Think of them as milestones on our shared adventure, each offering a chance to deepen your understanding and express your evolving wisdom.

• A1: The Flourishing Systems Explorer's Log – Your Personal Sanctuary of Insight

• • Imagine this as your explorer's field journal, a trusted companion on our journey. It's your sacred space for capturing those illuminating "aha!" moments, sketching out the systemic "sightings" you encounter in Denmark and within yourself, and artfully weaving together the threads of your learning in real-time. This Log is where the course truly comes alive and becomes a living testament to your evolving understanding of what it means to flourish.
  • Your Showcase (A Curated Collection of your "Top Three" most resonant entries & a heartfelt Reflective Overview): Due Wednesday, June 11th, 11:59 PM

• A2: Denmark's Flourishing Tapestry – Deconstructing & Re-imagining a Cultural System with Creative Flair

• • Here, you step into the inspiring and playful role of a "cultural systems architect" and "storyteller of possibilities"! You'll choose a fascinating aspect of Danish life that truly captivates your curiosity. First, you'll become a keen-eyed detective, analyzing its hidden dynamics through our course lenses. Then, you'll unleash your creativity to propose thoughtful, innovative, and perhaps even wonderfully whimsical ways to enhance its flourishing potential even further. Think of it as co-authoring a new, more vibrant chapter for a system you care about.
  • Your Masterpiece (Your insightful analysis & visionary proposal): Due Friday, June 13th, 11:59 PM

• A3: Navigating My Inner & Outer Worlds – A Personal Flourishing Blueprint & Our Collaborative Wisdom Circle

• • This is a courageous, compassionate, and often joyful deep dive into the rich landscape of your own personal flourishing system. It culminates in a wonderfully supportive peer inquiry workshop – our "Collaborative Wisdom Circle" – where you'll gain fresh perspectives and offer your presence to others. Afterwards, you'll craft a written blueprint – a living, breathing personal map – to guide your continued growth, well-being, and the unfolding of your unique potential long after our course concludes.
  • Part 1 (Our In-Class Workshop Adventure – The Collaborative Wisdom Circle): Wednesday, June 11th (Special Extended Session, 5 hours)
  • Part 2 (Your Written Blueprint – Your Personal Compass for Continued Flourishing): Due Friday, June 13th, 11:59 PM

🌟 Our Approach to Assessment & Engagement

This course is designed as an immersive learning experience, and your growth will be recognized through a blend of your insightful contributions and the creative, thoughtful work you produce. My aim is to support your learning journey every step of the way.

Your Grade Will Reflect:

• Assignment 1: The Flourishing Systems Explorer's Log (Curated Showcase & Overview): [Specify Percentage Here, e.g., 25%]
• Assignment 2: Denmark's Flourishing Tapestry (Analysis & Proposal): [Specify Percentage Here, e.g., 25%]
• Assignment 3: Personal Flourishing Blueprint (Written Blueprint following Workshop): [Specify Percentage Here, e.g., 30%]
• Note: Active and thoughtful participation, as described below, is essential for success in all assignments and is thus intrinsically woven into your overall grade. [Roll Call Attendance & Participation, 20%]

🌱 The Vital Role of Participation 

Your presence, your voice, and your unique perspectives are what make our learning ecosystem thrive! Active participation isn't just about "being there"; it's about:

• Showing Up Fully: Attending all our class sessions, field studies, and workshops is key, as our learning builds day by day.
• Engaging with Heart & Mind: Diving into our discussions, sharing your reflections (even the tentative ones!), asking curious questions, and contributing thoughtfully to group activities. Every voice adds a vital thread to our collective tapestry of understanding.
• Co-Creating: Our classroom is a space for shared discovery. Your active engagement helps us all learn more deeply. This includes the invaluable insights you'll gain and share during our A3 Collaborative Wisdom Circle.

💎 What I Value in Your Work & Contributions 

My feedback and assessment will focus on celebrating and encouraging:

• Deep & Thoughtful Engagement: How you grapple with the course material, connect it to your experiences, and apply the "Flourishing Systems" lenses in insightful ways. This is especially evident in your Explorer's Log (A1).
• Creative & Critical Sparks: Your willingness to think outside the box, ask courageous questions (respectfully, of course!), and offer original, well-reasoned reflections in your written work and our discussions.
• Clarity & Connection: How clearly you articulate your ideas and how well you weave together concepts from Positive Psychology, Systems Thinking, and our other core lenses.
• Academic Craftsmanship with Heart: When you draw upon external sources to enrich your arguments, I'll look for high-quality, credible, and relevant choices. Citing your sources clearly (APA style is a good guide, with a focus on making them easy for me to find – links like DOIs or URLs are wonderful!) shows respect for the intellectual conversation we're part of. The most important thing is that your claims are thoughtfully supported.

🤝 Our Class Culture Commitment

This course is a co-created voyage. Your active, heartfelt presence, your open curiosity, and your willingness to engage with kindness are the winds in our sails. As a community of learners, we commit to:

• Arriving Prepared & Participating with Our Whole Selves: Engaging with the "Essential Explorations" before class brings your unique insights to our shared table, allowing us all to dive deeper. Your voice truly matters.
• Being Present & Honoring Our Shared Time: Our time together is precious. If an absence is unavoidable, a quick heads-up is always appreciated.
• Connecting & Collaborating with Kindness & Playfulness: Let's approach new ideas with warm hearts and a spirit of playful exploration, listening to truly understand and support each other.
• Reflecting & Integrating (The Magic of Your Explorer's Log): Your A1 Log is your personal lab for processing, connecting, and nurturing your insights.
• Weaving in Our Danish Experiences: Let's joyfully draw upon our daily "aha!" moments in Denmark. Denmark is, in many ways, our classroom this summer! 💫
• Honoring Original Thought & Celebrating Sources: Your work should be an expression of your unique learning journey. When drawing on others' brilliance, let's acknowledge them with clarity and respect.

🌿 Our Curious & Kind Learning Space

Our classroom is so much more than just walls and chairs; it's a dynamic, vibrant learning ecosystem that I'm excited to cultivate with you. It's our shared sanctuary for exploration, discovery, and those "Wauw!" insights. My deepest commitment is to fostering a space that feels truly special, where:

• Curiosity & Playfulness Fuel Our Exploration: We'll approach new ideas and differing viewpoints with wide-eyed wonder and a spirit of playful curiosity, always seeking to understand and learn from each other.
• "Mistakes" are Reimagined as "Stepping Stones": This is a space to try new ways of thinking and see every experience as an opportunity to explore and grow.
• Every Voice is Valued, Every Story Matters: We'll honor each other's unique journeys and perspectives with respect, empathy, and unwavering kindness. All our perspectives are important pieces of our collective puzzle.

On our very first day, we'll joyfully co-create more specific agreements for our interactions, ensuring our shared space feels wonderfully supportive and inspiring for everyone.

 

🇩🇰 Our Danish Learning Context

Being immersed in Denmark offers us an unparalleled, living laboratory. I encourage you to:

• Explore with an Artist's Eye & a Scientist's Curiosity: Actively notice the nuances of Danish culture, social norms, human-centered design, and unique approaches to well-being. Treat Danish concepts (like "hygge" or "tillid") as tools to understand our course topics.

Your everyday experiences here are invaluable data for our collective learning and for the creative, insightful work you'll do in Assignment 2.

 

❤️ My Commitment to Your Well-being

This course is designed to be intensive and deeply rewarding. Please know that your well-being is my paramount concern.

• Pacing with Self-Compassion: I encourage you to listen to your own rhythms and weave in practices of self-care. Our longer days have built-in breaks.
• Open Communication is Key: If you face challenges impacting your learning, please feel comfortable reaching out. I'm here to support you and explore solutions together.
• An Accessible & Inclusive Space: I'm committed to a learning environment where everyone can thrive. If you have specific needs or require accommodations, please discuss them with me so I can support you best!
• Embracing Emergent Flow: While this syllabus offers a roadmap, learning is a living process! We may make small adjustments to respond to our group's emergent ideas and needs.

I am genuinely thrilled and honored to embark on this unique exploration of flourishing systems with you! Get ready for some "Wauw!"

 

👩‍🎓 Academic Accommodations

Your learning experience in this class is important to me.  If you have approved academic accommodations with DIS, please make sure I receive your DIS accommodations letter on the first days of class. If you can think of other ways I can support your learning, please don't hesitate to talk to me. If you have any further questions about your academic accommodations, contact Academic Support academicsupport@dis.dk

📖 Academic Regulations  

Please make sure to read the Academic Regulations on the DIS website. There you will find regulations on:

• Course Enrollment and Grading
• Academic Expectations and Honor Code