Educators

Greater Good Education Program

The Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Education (GGE) program cultivates character strengths and well-being in children and the educators who support them. Its goal is to leverage insights from the science of social, emotional, and ethical well-being to help all members of a school community build a positive climate in which youth and adults can thrive.

Over the past 15 years, GGE has built a robust international audience and a reputation as thought leaders in the field of education. It distinguishes itself by its commitment to both science and practice: The program produces free, research-based multimedia resources that give millions of educators concrete strategies for creating kinder, happier schools—and supports them as they apply these resources in their classrooms, schools, and their own lives.

GGE engages educators at multiple levels, providing both breadth and depth: It raises awareness on a massive scale about the importance of social, emotional, and ethical well-being in education; engages educators more deeply with practical resources that they can incorporate into their work; and fosters community around those resources, enabling educators to learn and share best practices for even greater impact.

To better meet busy educators where they are, we’ve designed our offerings for different levels of engagement:

The Lightest Lift: Greater Good Articles

Our free articles in Greater Good Magazine and the Greater Good Education blog offer practical insights on how to apply the science of social, emotional, and ethical development in educational settings. The article content also helps educators “make the case” to their peers, leaders, and communities for engaging in this work.

You can explore the magazine and blog anytime, or subscribe to our newsletters to get the latest articles delivered to your inbox.

Learn & Practice… In Your Own Time: Online Courses & GGIE Practices

For educators who want to engage more deeply with the science of a meaningful life and how to apply it in education, our self-paced online courses offer the greatest flexibility, covering topics such as the basics of social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and character education; awe in education; and courage in schools.

If you are looking for something you can do right away in your classroom, with your colleagues or staff, or for your own well-being, try a Greater Good in Education practice. Our free, online resource offers more than 350 age-appropriate and research-based practices for bringing the science of social, emotional, and ethical well-being into education.

Connect With Other Educators & Learn From Experts: Online Community Meetings

For educators wanting to connect with other like-minded educators, our free community meetings feature experts and practitioners along with small-group discussions—an excellent opportunity for learning and networking. Guests such as Parker Palmer, Arthur Schwartz, Meena Srinivasan, and Shamari Reid represent a wide-range of perspectives and roles across education, sharing their strategies to engage in systemic change around student and staff well-being.

Join a Community of Practice: Greater Good Educators

Greater Good Educators is a virtual community of practice that provides a safe and supportive community in which to deepen your understanding and practice of the science of a meaningful life in education. Educators from around the world learn with and from each other through a guided exploration of topics related to character strengths and individual and collective well-being.

Engage in a Special School Project: Greater Good Schools

For Greater Good Educator alums who want to make real change in their classrooms, grade-level cohorts, schools, or districts—or if you’re part of an educational organization working with schools—Greater Good Schools supports small teams in carrying out a project of their own design over the course of a year. Launching soon! Sign up for our newsletter to hear the latest.