Trauma-Informed Pedagogy to Support Student Success

Course Description

This course is offered by the University of Nebraska Kearney on our UNK Advance platform in partnership with the Online Learning Consortium.

With growing concerns about student wellbeing in higher education, this workshop will provide an overview of trauma-informed pedagogy and its application to teaching and learning. We will reflect on the heightened stress that many of our students have experienced in recent years related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, disease, war, climate change, violence, and threats to democracy, which has exacerbated long-standing inequities. These sources of toxic stress can feel demoralizing and powerless. 

This workshop is designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills needed to create a safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environment for all students. Participants will explore the core principles of trauma-informed pedagogy, as well as their role in recognizing the signs of trauma in students, understanding its potential effects on behavior and learning, and ways to foster hope and healing. Through engaging discussions and strategic planning, educators will discover practical strategies to adapt their teaching approaches, classroom management techniques, and communication methods to meet the unique needs of trauma-affected students.