Brainwriting for Happiness in Learning – A Qualitative Approach

Abstract

Happiness is the preponderance of positive emotions in an individual. Parents and teachers today care more about happy learning than mere exam results. Hence it is imperative to explore the learning experiences of children attending various teaching methods. Brainwriting is a technique that can be easily implemented in classrooms. This paper is based on a pilot study, using convenient sampling, conducted among adolescents (N=35) to explore the experiences of children who underwent online Brainwriting. The researcher adopted a qualitative research design with a phenomenological approach. An in-depth interview with an unstructured questionnaire was used to collect data. Thematic analysis of data derived three main themes of experiences: ‘Delighting,’ ‘Fascinating,’ and ‘Thought-provoking,’ and eight sub-themes. The sub-themes under ‘Delighting’ were ‘happiness,’ ‘joyful,’ and ‘thrilling.’ The sub-themes under ‘fascinating’ were ‘super,’ ‘awesome,’ and ‘interesting,’ while the sub-themes under ‘thought-provoking’ were ‘stimulation for thinking’ and ‘modification of thinking’. The study revealed that Brainwriting enhances a positive learning environment with delightful, fascinating, and thought-provoking experiences. Policy makers in academia can use the original findings of the study to enhance learning processes and teaching effectiveness.