Overview
Alignment with Be You Domains
-
Mentally Healthy Communities
-
Family Partnerships
-
Learning Resilience
-
Early Support
-
Responding Together
Alignment with Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)
- Children are confident and involved learners
- Children are connected with and contribute to their world
- Children are effective communicators
- Children have a strong sense of identity
- Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
Alignment with Australian Curriculum
- Health and PE
Target audience
- Early learning
- Primary school
- Secondary school
Target groups
- Individual
- Small group
- Whole class
- Whole school
- Other (please specify)
Program delivery
Schools are able to decide how best to deliver the program, based on their specific needs.Aims
Switch4Schools aims to transform communities through supporting better emotional health for school-age children and young people.Program theory
The program draws from the field of behavioural economics, in particular, the work by Kahneman and Tversky, Dr Paul Eckman's work on universal emotions and the lifelong emotional research by Dr Antonio Domasio. It is also heavily influenced by modern attachment theory research (in particular, psychologist Sue Johnson), which looks at attachment styles in human relationships and lifelong behavioural impacts on anxiety management, trust and interpersonal relationships. At the heart of the program is the Switch4Schools Emotion Wheel, which gives us the language to help us understand and manage emotion.Topics
The Switch4Schools Emotion Wheel uses Dr Ekman's words to map arousal to anger (annoyed/frustrated/fury), sadness (disappointed/hopeless/grief/despair) and fear (nervous/dread/panic/terror). The model continues to be refined based on new research and user feedback. By growing our emotional intelligence, mastering our emotional reactivity, and improving our emotional health, we can solve most of the big challenges we face at an individual, family and societal level.Cost
Program structure
Through regular (mostly daily) student check-in (tracking tiredness, emotion, emotional intensity and teacher chat), Switch matches real-time and intuitive data for teachers with insights (bolstered by AI) and proactive ‘things to do’ (or ‘switches) for better self-regulation and wellbeing.Instructor
- External facilitator
- Psychologist
- Educator
- Wellbeing leader
Instructor training
The program is designed to be intuitive enough that it doesn't require specific training or expertise to use or deliver.Supporting resources or materials available with program
- Manual
- Online webinars
- Posters
- Workbook
- Other (please specify)
Other materials
There are more than 200 brain tricks and activities (called switches), more than 100 lesson plans mapped to the ACARA framework, more than 150 videos, and hundreds of other resources and activities, all ordered in a way that is easy to use and quick to access. These include digital and printable resources.Ongoing support
Switch4Schools provides technical and onboarding support. The program is designed to be intuitive enough that it doesn't require specific training or expertise to use or deliver.Parent involvement
- Attend information sessions
- Attend program sessions with child
- Written information provided to parents
- Parent handbook
- Online resources
Origin of program
Australia
Switch4Schools
Program authors
Psychologist Phil Slade and digital learning and development expert Roshelle Weir
Ratings
Summary of evidence factors
This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.
Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people?
The study reported positive outcomes. |
Yes |
---|---|
Link between program description and theory of change
Theory of change refers to whether there was a comprehensive description and illustration of how and why a desired change is expected to happen in a particular context. |
None |
Study design
Type of study design reported. |
Pre-post cohort |
Independence
The degree to which the program authors were involved in the research. |
None |
Summary of implementation factors
This is a summary of the program’s characteristics that contribute to its implementation rating.
Feedback sought from participants
Participants enjoyed the program and understood its benefits. |
No |
---|---|
Feedback sought from instructors
Instructors enjoyed the program and understood its benefits. |
No |
Groups program is not suitable for
Groups the program wouldn't be suitable for or that required further research to determine suitability. |
Not assessed |
Training provided during study
The model of training provided. |
Face to face, all instructors, in person |
Ongoing instructor support provided during study
Whether ongoing support is provided. |
Yes |
Context
This is a summary of the context in which the evidence for the program was established.
Study Participants
Pre school, primary school (Foundation to Year 6), secondary school (Years 7 to 12). |
Primary school |
---|---|
Country of Study/s
The location in which the evidence or research was conducted. |
Australia |
Location of Study/s in Australia
The state (or states) the program was assessed in Australia. |
QLD |
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations
Provider has included culturally and linguistically diverse people when assessing the program. |
No |
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people
Provider has included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples when assessing the program. |
No |
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups
Program has evaluated a diverse socio-economic population in their research. |
No |
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery
Shorter sessions for younger students or activities are adjusted for age appropriateness. |
No |
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference
Provider has included participants with a disability or learning difference when assessing the program. |
No |
Last updated: 14 October 2024