onlincourse

Transforming Education in Challenging Environments

Explore how teachers can transform the learning of displaced children and children affected by crisis and conflict with this online teaching course from UCL.

Duration

4 weeks

Weekly study

4 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

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Build the knowledge needed to teach children affected by difficult contexts

Teachers play an important role in supporting vulnerable children affected by mass displacement, crisis, and conflict. Refugee children may also be victims of violence and other issues that impact their emotional wellbeing and ability to learn. Teachers need to be prepared to deal with these difficulties.

On this course, you will learn how teachers can make a difference to children from challenging contexts. You will discover how to transform learning spaces and educational practices, and you will share your teaching methods and real experiences of teaching in crises with other educators.

Week 1
Educators changing learning environments
- Welcome to the course
  Introducing the course content and the first week's material, where we look at educators as agents for change.
- Educators imagining and creating change with limited resources
  No matter what the physical resources are, teachers imagine a better environment for their students. They also implement simple techniques to realise this imagined space.
- Educators responding to challenges in the social environment
  The social environment has an impact on teaching and learning and can enhance or hinder their ability to learn. Teachers use various methods to respond to this environment, including the use of digital technologies.
- Approaches to changing the learning space
  There are principles that frame our teaching and learning processes as transformative educators. These principles can be instilled in our practice to make positive change, and listening to learners is key.
- Moving forward with ideas for change
  If the basic principles of participation, equality, and acceptance are understood and we believe in the positive role of education it is possible to create space for all children to learn.
Week 2
Understanding learners in context
- The wider contexts that influence teaching and learning
  Introducing ecological systems theory to help make sense of the wider factors that impact children, young people, and their teachers.
- Understanding learner perspectives
  Understanding what children bring to learning and ideas for how teachers can encourage learners to share their perspectives.
- Teaching controversial issues
  There are many occasions when controversial issues come up in class, and particularly when children and teachers are experiencing challenging situations. How can we respond?
- Summary
  Summarising this week's learning.
Week 3
Transforming learning for an unknowable future
- Responding to students’ needs and aspirations
  Ways of transforming our educational practice to support learners' aspirations.
- Transformative teaching and learning
  Putting transformative teaching and learning into practice.
- Collaborating on transformative education
  Submit a teaching idea for peer review and review others' ideas.
- Understanding and working within limitations
  Teachers are not alone, and counsellors and social workers can provide support when teachers cannot.
Week 4
Digital networks for change
- Digital tools to help learners
  How can digital methods be used by teachers to enhance learning in challenging contexts?
- Digital tools to help teachers
  What digital tools can be used to help teachers design effective learning?
- Sharing our best ideas
  Teachers share their ideas of and for transformative education.