As war and upheavals have underlined, many students at our university and other university have experienced trauma. Nor are trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress – three distinct issues, properly speaking – solely a reflection of world events. Many times, trauma is rooted in personal experiences. Furthermore, while some students speak openly of the trauma they have experienced, for others it is hidden. Regardless, the effects of trauma on educational experience are often unexpected and present challenges to both educators in their responses, and to students navigating our courses and classrooms.
This workshop introduces instructors to the process of becoming trauma-informed in the classroom from an educational perspective. The workshop gives participants an overview of the foundational contexts for understanding trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, and stress.The workshop identifies methods of providing appropriate support to students who have experienced (or are experiencing) trauma, while also addressing how to set boundaries and address the limitations of educators in this context.