…with Julie Kane

In today's educational landscape, supporting young people's mental health and emotional literacy is more important than ever. We know that many young people are struggling with managing their emotions and this impacts their education in a range of ways.

Julie is a third-year PhD student at Aston University, and discusses her innovative research using zines to support emotional literacy and mental health in young people. Julie shares how her background in psychology and art inspired her to develop creative workshops for primary and secondary students. We discuss the benefits of arts-based approaches, the flexibility and community-building power of zines, and the positive feedback from schools. Julie also highlights practical resources for teachers and her ongoing efforts to adapt and expand this project.

"It's like reading literacy—you can read words but not comprehend them. Emotional literacy involves both naming emotions and truly understanding them." – Julie Kane

Zelp on Breath Education: https://breathe-edu.co.uk/zelp/

Key points of the discussion:

• Research on zines as a tool for improving emotional literacy and mental health in young people.

• Julie's background in psychology and child development, combined with interests in art and creative expression led to this research.

• Definition and importance of emotional literacy in understanding and expressing emotions.

• The role of arts-based projects in enhancing mental health and providing alternative forms of expression.

• Description and characteristics of zines as self-published materials for personal expression.

• The collaborative and solitary aspects of zine-making and its impact on community building.

• Implementation of zine workshops in primary schools and their structure, including psychoeducation lessons.

• Positive feedback from children participating in zine workshops and its effects on their emotional literacy.

• Adaptation of zine workshop materials for secondary school students and the challenges faced.

• Resources and support for teachers to implement zine-making in educational settings, including animated videos and lesson plans.

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With Jade Davies, Dr Ola Demkowicz, Dr Khathustshelo Muluvhu-Malanga and Dr Laura Oxley

In this final episode from the BPS Psychology of Education Setion's conference we hear from four experts on different elements of mental health in schools. We explore how social media impacts teenagers’ wellbeing, the unique mental health challenges faced by adolescent girls, effective counseling models for supporting students towards academic excellence, and the importance of teacher wellbeing. The guests share research insights and practical advice, emphasising the need for open conversations, systemic change, and collaborative support. Together, they highlight the complexities of mental health in education and the importance of empathetic, evidence-based approaches for both students and teachers.

Key points from the episode:

• Mental health in schools
• Impact of social media on young people's mental health
• Adolescent girls' mental health challenges
• Gender mental health gap and contributing factors
• Counseling models to support student wellbeing
• Teacher wellbeing and its relationship to student behavior
• Systemic changes needed to improve mental health support in schools
• Importance of open conversations between adults and young people regarding social media
• Strategies for teachers to manage student conduct and support mental health
• Collaboration among educators, parents, and institutions to enhance student support systems

Time stamps

Jade Davies: 2mins 6secs

Ola Demkowicz: 14mins 28 secs

Khathustshelo Muluvhu-Malanga: 25mins 16 secs

Laura Oxley: 32mins 34secs

...with Professor Louise Taylor and Professor Silke Paulmann

In this episode of Psychology in the Classroom, Professor Louise Taylor discusses students’ perceptions of using generative AI for assessment feedback, highlighting its benefits and the continued need for human connection in the marking and feedback process. In part two Professor Silke Pohlmann shares research on how a teacher’s tone of voice shapes students’ classroom experiences. Both conversations, recorded at the British Psychological Society’s conference, offer practical insights for educators on integrating AI thoughtfully and using voice effectively to support student wellbeing and engagement.

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Key discussion points:

• Students' perceptions of generative AI in formative assessment feedback.
• Benefits and limitations of AI-generated feedback compared to human feedback.
• The role of human interaction in the feedback process and its impact on student wellbeing.
• Potential applications of AI in secondary education for developing writing and critical thinking skills.
• The influence of a teacher's tone of voice on student emotions and engagement.
• The relationship between voice tone and student behavior in the classroom.
• Strategies for teachers to manage their voice tone effectively.
• The use of AI tools to analyse and provide feedback on teachers' voice tones.
• The impact of emotional susceptibility on how students perceive voice tones.
• Practical tips for teachers to enhance communication and support student engagement through voice modulation.