Embracing Diversity, Preventing Bullying and Violence

Description

Concept by Ilaria Barbieri

All European schools differ from one another, but at the same time, they struggle with similar issues. Among these, it seems that discrimination and bullying are some of the most diffused and dangerous problems.

Not only can they have negative effects on learning, but they can also lead to long-lasting, sad consequences that can affect the students throughout their whole lives. 

The increasing diffusion of problems connected to discrimination and bullying in schools should not make teachers feel weaker.

On the contrary, if staff get together, observe real scenarios, and combine their strengths, they can set up effective strategies to improve educational processes, with small steps being taken every day. 

By the end of the training, participants will have a deeper insight into the dynamics underlying discrimination and bullying in schools.

They will also have developed skills and practiced methodologies to prevent conflicts, manage emotions, and foster a better and healthier school environment.

Please note: if you are an educator working with disadvantaged learners and you wish to attend a specific course about that, you can have a look at our seminaries focused on Special Needs.  

Learning outcomes

The course will help the participants to:

• Differentiate conflicts from Bullying and use strategies to prevent and manage them;
• Understand the techniques used to develop student’s social and emotional intelligence;
• Gain a deeper understanding of stereotypes and discrimination;
• Improve teaching and learning processes;
• Learn how to work better in a team with colleagues and how to boost teamwork in the classroom.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction & diversity

• Welcoming participants, ice-breaking activities;
• What does it mean to be “different”?  
• Kinds of diversity in nowadays’ schools.

Day 2 – Conflicts in the classroom

• Conflicts in educational settings;
• Dynamics behind bullying;
• The actors;
• Who shall we empower? 
• GRITFIS: a documentary.

Day 3 – Prevention measures

• Good practices from Finland (from Gritfis Project);
• Arvokas and Role Play activities;
• Good practices from Spain: Peer Mediation

Day 4 – Prejudice and diversity

• Discrimination. socio-psychological dynamics that support it;
• Activity: checking our assumptions;
• Emotional and Social Intelligence;   
• Collaboration, communication, and Empathy in Learning activities;  
• Design your activities and projects. 

Day 5 – Mindfulness

• Mindfulness: background and benefits;   
• Managing emotions, accepting the other;   
• Techniques for different ages and different personalities;   
• Case study: a school in Motril, Spain; 
• Start easy, start now! What should I take home? 

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.