Trauma-Informed Education and Promoting Resilience in the Classroom – A Summary

by | Apr 11, 2023 | TILE Talk Reflection

In this talk, Dr Chelsea Robertson provided an informative overview of what trauma-informed education is, why it matters, and how it can be implemented. The main take-aways were that

  1. trauma can take many shapes and forms and is quite common in students.
  2. we need to rethink our definition of resilience as as strong social support an individual has access to and not something that is solely part and a characteristic of an individual. This new definition takes the pressure off the individual and offers a better way to support students.
  3. trauma-informed approaches can be implemented on different levels and usually benefit all students in the room.

Check out the full presentation below.

See you at the next TILE Network seminar on 19 April 2023 at 4PM (UK time) on “Rethinking One-Size-Fits-All: Education for Neurodiversity” by Dr Lorna Hamilton, Associate Professor of Psychology, York St John University.

Presentation Slides

Abstract:   

The past few decades have seen a growing awareness of the effects trauma has on student outcomes, along with the recognition that educators have an important role in fostering their students’ positive development. Additionally, interest has grown in how educators may promote a classroom culture that fosters student growth and achievement. With this growing interest has come a focus on the effects of trauma on student outcomes and how educators can mitigate these effects.

This talk will discuss research on the prevalence and effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) on students’ academic, physical, cognitive, and social-emotional outcomes. While not all students have been exposed to trauma, all students can benefit from educators who are trauma-informed and resilience-focused.

A strong emphasis will be placed on the 6 key principles of trauma-informed care proposed by the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Special consideration will be given to how educators can use these principles to mitigate the effects of early adversity and promote resilience.

About the speaker:

Dr Chelsea Robertson received her Ph.D. in experimental psychology from East Tennessee State University in 2021 and is currently an assistant professor of psychology at West Liberty University located in northern West Virginia. Her primary research interests include early adversity and trauma- and resilience-informed teaching in the postsecondary classroom.