EDUC3620 Relationships for Learning

2017

4.5

1 x 1-hour lecture weekly
1 x 2-hour workshop weekly

9 units of Level 2 EDUC topics

EDUC3610 has been successfully completed

Educational settings are increasingly being challenged by young people who test their expertise, resources and personnel in providing for their needs. This topic focuses on developing the relational competencies teachers need, to develop positive relationships with young people, parents and colleagues. This will help students develop their capacity to interact effectively with young people, including with those who have complex needs and disabilities.

Students will encounter a range of theories and approaches to classroom management that are relevant to different school, family, community, and regional issues and contexts. They will have the opportunity to develop the capacity to reflect upon, and critique currently used proactive, preventative and responsive ways to support children and young people. In the course of this, students will consider the situations of students who might be experiencing such issues as bullying, harassment, exclusion, isolation, socio economic disadvantage, disempowerment, trauma, withdrawal and family difficulties. Students will also consider the links between curriculum, engagement, motivation and behaviour and the implications of these for teaching and learning.

This topic aims to develop:

• a deepened understanding of the need for teachers to be able to develop relational competencies in themselves and students in order to create and sustain positive, responsive learning environments

• relational competencies to assist students to develop and facilitate effective relationships among learners, educators and parents and among their colleagues within schools, systems and outside agencies

• an awareness of a range of ways to support the social and emotional development of students to develop self awareness, personal resources, resilience and coping strategies for personal and relational wellbeing

• an awareness of ways to connect across boundaries to build positive relationships with all members of a school community

• an awareness of ways of acting effectively in challenging situations

On completing this topic students will be able to:

• show evidence of their own developing relational competence in relation to developing positive learning environments

• articulate and critique a range of different theories and approaches to behaviour and classroom management in specific contexts

• demonstrate the links between curriculum, engagement, motivation and behaviour

• use their knowledge of proactive, preventative and responsive ways to show how they could facilitate the agency, empowerment and social development of their students