Silent Disco, Visible Energy: Joyful Schools and PERMA-Digital at EDUCA 2026

This session did not start with a talk. It started with a beat. At EDUCA 2026, participants at the Speakers’ Corner put on headphones and, within seconds, found themselves inside the same pop track. The invitation was simple: express the joy of learning with a small gesture. The effect was immediate. A short pause, then smiles, then movement. Subtle or bold, individual gestures quickly became shared patterns. Without introduction, the room shifted from audience to activity.
Published
3.4.2026

From there, the session—led by the Innovative Learning Environments research group (ILE)—moved into the work of the Joyful Schools and PERMA-Digital projects. Tiina Mäkelä outlined the Joyful Schools project's holistic framework of well-being. Jukka Sinnemäki anchored it in curriculum and practice. Contributions from Kristóf Fenyvesi, Mi Yung Hong, and Wazir Ali extended the discussion across contexts.

Orsolya Tuba held the space with a light but precise presence as MC. Josephine Lau ensured that everything worked, bringing the whole group into the experience while keeping the event organized. 

The session was among the most attended at the Speakers’ Corner. This matters in the context of EDUCA itself. As Finland’s largest education event, it brings together research, practice, and policy in a dense, fast-moving environment. Talks, demos, and conversations overlap. The atmosphere is open and practical, with a growing focus on well-being, sustainability, and technology. 

Within this setting, the ILE session stood out for its clarity and one point became clear. The opening did not just energise the room. It established a mode of participation. Well-being is not an added theme. It is shaped through how learning situations are designed. 

Kristóf Fenyvesi
Kristóf Fenyvesi
Senior Researcher

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Research group

Innovative Learning Environments (ILE)

Innovative Learning Environments, Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä