Duration
5 weeksWeekly study
4 hours100% online
How it works
The Heart of Teaching: Reflective Practice in Teaching and Learning
Shape inclusive education within your classroom and beyond
As educational demands grow, relational pedagogy has become a key focus, reshaping how educators and students engage with one another and how learner needs are met.
On this five-week course from the University of East Anglia, explore the power behind relationships within the learning context and gain teaching strategies that allow you to stay attuned to the latest in learning.
By the end, you’ll become an advocate for inclusive teaching, leading educational environments with kindness, empathy, and respect.
Build your relational pedagogy foundation
Start your learning journey by exploring the impact of your identity on your teaching practice. Reflect on how your values, purpose, and intersectionality shape the way you connect with students and influence your approach to teaching.
Through engaging videos and articles, you’ll learn to embrace a growth mindset that enhances your relational pedagogy and encourages positive student engagement.
Navigate bias in teaching and participate in reflective practice
You’ll then examine the various types of bias and their impact on your teaching practice, gaining insight into strategies that promote equity in higher education and empower educators to foster more inclusive student learning environments.
Plus, learn to engage in reflective practice, developing attunement to diverse student needs and perspectives to create a more supportive and equitable classroom.
Transform your teaching through connection
Near the end of this course, you’ll put your skills into practice, furthering your connections within the classroom and driving positive student and teacher development.
You’ll walk away with a refined approach to education, integrating feedback and strategies that empower both you to create spaces where everyone can succeed.
Syllabus
Week 1
The impact of identity
Welcome to the course
In this activity, you’ll get a quick overview of the course, meet your instructors, and introduce yourself to fellow learners.
Relational pedagogy and identity
This activity explores theories influencing relational pedagogy, introduces identity, examines intersectionality, and guides you in reflecting on your teaching identity, purpose, and values.
Pedagogy in practice
In this activity, explore how your influence and personality shape teaching. Learn to foster meaningful connections with your learners, enhancing their educational experience and your teaching effectiveness.
Week 2
The power of perspective
The reflective scholar
In this activity, explore the importance of reflection for self-awareness and understand how perspective influences teaching. Enhance your ability to critically evaluate and improve your educational practices.
Nurturing mattering
In this activity, explore pedagogies of mattering, understand and value diverse perspectives, and examine the growth mindset’s educational implications. Learn practical ways to nurture a sense of mattering in your teaching.
Teaching from multiple angles
In this activity, explore pedagogies of mattering, intersectional pedagogy, and creating a safe, inclusive learning environment. Delve into communication styles and learn to create inclusive learning content for diverse learners.
Week 3
Navigating bias
Understanding bias
In this activity, explore the concept of bias and its various types. Understand how biases can impact teaching and learning, and learn strategies to recognize and mitigate them in your educational practice.
Empowering educators for success
In this activity, explore your emotional intelligence, recognize the influence of bias in teaching, understand the power of expectations, and move towards relational pedagogy in higher education to empower you as an educator.
Strategies for equity in Higher Education
In this activity, explore Powergogy, understand the impacts of bias in practice, and identify barriers to learning. Develop strategies to promote equity in higher education and create an inclusive learning environment.
Week 4
The teaching context
The essential role of the educator
In this activity, explore Bloom’s affective domain in taxonomy, understand your presence in the learning space, and enhance your teaching presence. Discover the essential role you play in shaping engaging learning experiences
Exploring diverse teaching approaches
In this activity you'll explore a variety of teaching approaches to enhance your educational practice. Learn how to adapt your methods to meet diverse learner needs and create an inclusive, engaging learning environment.
Beyond words: understanding learner needs
In this activity you will explore the importance of communication and learn strategies to enhance the learner experience. Understand how to effectively address and meet diverse learner needs beyond just words.
Week 5
The human touch
Cultivating connections
In this activity, you'll explore the importance of human connection, embrace relational pedagogy, and reflect on your continuous learning journey to cultivate meaningful connections in the evolving landscape of education.
Transforming education through connection
In this activity, explore building community and student belonging virtually, enhancing the teacher/student relationship, leveraging the power of personal connection, and understanding the student perspective to transform.
Empowering change in academia
In this activity, you'll explore the importance of human connection, conduct self-assessment, and leverage peer and learner feedback to empower your teaching practices and foster a more engaging academic environment.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Describe the principles of strong relational pedagogy and its impact on student learning.
- Develop skills for building positive relationships with students and colleagues.
- Explore strategies for creating an inclusive classroom environment that fosters kindness and respect.
- Identify how learner engagement and belonging are interlinked.
- Reflect on personal teaching practices and identify areas for growth in relational approaches.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for educators, teachers, clinical educators, and educational support staff who are eager to enhance their teaching practice.
It’s ideal for anyone looking to create safe, inclusive learning environments that foster meaningful connections and promote growth for both learners and instructors.
Who will you learn with?
Lauren Flannery (BSc (Hons), MA, MRCSLT, HCPC, SFHEA) is a Specialist Speech and Language Therapist and a Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences at the University of East Anglia.
Dr Elizabeth Scholefield (BSc (Hons), PgDip, PhD, FHEA) is a lecturer and psychologist in education at the University of East Anglia, UK.
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
---|---|---|---|
Choose the best way to learn for you! | $79/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 12 Mar 2025 |
Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$79/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 12 Mar 2025
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. |
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 3 March 2025 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
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