Description
In times of social uncertainty, students’ involvement with learning becomes much more complicated. Students nowadays need to be able to overcome challenges, build confidence, and stay engaged in learning.
Cultivating a resilient outlook and coping with life’s challenges represents an essential skill more than ever before.
In this endeavor, students are not alone, as studies in psychology and education have shown that this aspect can be developed by creating a supportive environment, meaningful relationships, and implementing targeted strategies in school.
This course is designed for teachers who want to cultivate their understanding of resilience and adaptability in the classroom. It is inspired by key theories such as Bandura’s (1986) social cognitive theory, Dweck’s (2006) growth mindset, and CASEL’s (2020) social-emotional learning (SEL) framework and offers research-based methods to encourage resilience in the classroom.
Through hands-on activities, interactive discussions, and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to receive practical experience on how to sustain a safe and supportive learning environment based on the development of confidence, emotional intelligence, and adaptability.
The course incorporates innovative teaching approaches, such as trauma-informed instruction, self-regulation techniques, and metacognitive skill-building.
By the end of this course, participants will learn to apply these practices and be more prepared to recognize and handle children’s academic and social challenges, setting the base for developing a lasting ability to thrive.
What is included
Learning outcomes
This course will help participants to:
- Develop a thorough awareness of resilience and how it affects behavior and academic performance in addition to student achievement;
- Use techniques to help pupils develop a growth mindset and improve their emotional intelligence;
- Make use of efficient resources and techniques to advance social-emotional learning (SEL) and emotional health;
- Implement teaching strategies that foster a helpful and psychologically safe learning environment;
- Create lesson plans and activities that help students become more resilient and self-assured while incorporating them easily into the curriculum.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Foundation of resilience in education
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools;
- Understanding the concept of resilience: theories, research, and its effect on learning;
- The brain’s response to stress and overcoming challenges;
- Growth mindset: promoting a “not yet” attitude in everyday problems;
- Interactive icebreaker: “Resilience in everyday life”.
Day 2 – Emotional intelligence and social-emotional learning (SEL)
- The role of emotional intelligence in strengthening student resilience;
- Mindfulness and emotional well-being in education;
- Core principles of social-emotional learning (SEL);
- Interactive classroom activities to develop empathy and social skills;
- Hands-on workshop: “Incorporating emotional well-being into everyday teaching”.
Day 3 – Building a supportive and safe learning environment – strategies for strengthening resilience
- Creating a safe and inclusive classroom: building trust and belonging;
- The “Quiet” student: understanding bullying, social roles, and school dynamics;
- Effective communication strategies to encourage student expression and independence;
- Research-based methods to support resilience in the classroom;
- Interactive workshop: “Building self-confidence and adaptability through engaging activities”.
Day 4 – Technology, emotional intelligence, and resilience
- Addressing emotional disconnection in a digital world;
- Using technology to improve emotional learning experiences;
- Role-playing and scenario-based learning to strengthen resilience.
Day 5 – Practical strategies for teaching resilience
- The teacher’s role in creating a supportive school environment;
- Developing personal and institutional plans to strengthen resilience;
- Group activity: “Creating a lesson plan that promotes resilience”;
- Exchanging best practices from various educational systems.
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.
