Abstract:

In this paper, the author discusses the process whereby a group of eighteen pre-service teachers in a university department shared apps which they recommended for the purposes of addressing health and wellness in Education students. They presented the recommendations for useful phone apps in the format of an “Health Plan App” for Eddie (a character coined to represent a student of Education). It then took on the name of being a “hAPPy”. These recommendations were made and accepted by the group on condition that they were free to download and that they also were compatible with both android and Apple phones. The students, in their presentations, shared why they recommended the particular apps based on theories of wellness and health, as discussed as part of their eight-week “Mindfulness and Well-being” third-year elective.

The students, in groups, reviewed the apps they already had on their phones prior to proposing appropriate ones. They discussed which apps might be considered to address “wellness”. As there was not necessarily a consensus with regards to definitions, an investigation, which involved consulting literature, took place as to what constitutes wellness.

Concurrently, in-class debates were had as to whether or not having apps on a person’s phone might, in fact, be contra-indicatory to the concept of wellness, as it entailed external intervention, a power-source and the associated electronic “waves”. The majority of the group (fifteen) acknowledged that, while not necessarily ideal, the concept of having a non-drug-lead intervention accessible worked well for them at the time and for this reason, they were happy and anxious to share their recommendations as well as to learn from each other.

The de-personalisation of the student into the form of “Eddie” facilitated an honesty in the group, particularly with regards to recommendations which were targeted at mental health, as the students were directing their feedback and suggestions to a non-person, thus not appearing to be judgemental as to his perceived needs. The decision as to make the student male was agreed to address the perception that male students often are not comfortable speaking about health matters and seeking advice. This group adopted a stance of advocacy in this regard.

Conclusions reached and recommendations proffered in the form of the App Health Plan, included the visual representation of the health plan for “Eddie”, an agreed decision to highlight the area of wellness within the small male student group who undertake the BEd course and regular sharing of apps amongst the group members as well as those with whom they associate, as a way of combining two of the major interests of a significant number of these students – that is, hand-held, personalised Information Technology and the area of health and wellness.

Keywords:

Health, Wellness, App, Education, Students.