Trauma sensitive teaching in university classrooms
Course description
A number of students and staff have experiences of trauma, whether mild or more intense. This means that not only sensitive content but also everyday situations involving, for example learning behaviour and assessment have potential to be triggering for some students. At times, student and staff reactions can appear out of proportion to the situation such that an interaction in person or via email can escalate very quickly, leaving both people quite affected.
This interactive workshop will focus on how we can increase physical, emotional, social, spiritual and academic safety to support vulnerable students and ourselves as we work together in our face to face and online learning environments. Through the use of a 'compassionate communication' approach with links to mindfulness and self-compassion we can reduce the heat of difficult interactions, whilst increasing our responsiveness, thus taking care of both ourselves and our students. We will explore the following: academic, cultural, gender, emotional, physical, social and spiritual safety, support and connection, holistic pedagogies, empowerment voice and choice as well as 'prosilience' which involves positive strengthening, growth and change in addition to the capacity to 'bounce back'.
Type of course
Workshop
Who should attend
All staff who are wish to identify ways of supporting students and colleagues who may be experiencing trauma.
What you will learn
Using a 'compassionate communication' approach with links to mindfulness and self-compassion
Methods for reducing the heat of difficult interactions, whilst increasing our responsiveness,
How to consider positive strengthening, growth and change in addition to the capacity to 'bounce back'.