Social and Emotional Learning: Experience the Power of Education!

What is the power of education? What is the value of active and experiential learning methods? How can social and emotional learning take place in the school setting? What makes a good school environment? What is the role of teachers as facilitators of learning? Social and emotional competences become increasingly important and necessary in people’s daily lives, especially in the lives of children and youth, that are asked to cope with various challenges in their relationships and contacts with school peers, parents and other adults (such as teachers) they live, learn and socialize with. The European Commission now recognizes “Social and Civic Competences” as one of 8 key competences for lifelong learning, needed to live in contemporary society. The Commission also highlights the need of further developing teachers and trainers’ competences, motivation and skills so that their educational approaches match the needs of learners. Life Skills include both intrapersonal and interpersonal qualities. Intrapersonal life skills include self-awareness, self-control, self-esteem, self-respect and self-reflection. Interpersonal life skills include effective communication, cooperation, teamwork and problem solving abilities, respect of similarities and differences, appreciation, empathy, trust and love. We would like to explore the above questions and issues with participants in the course, while providing them with the theory and practical experience of innovative, interactive and creative methods for teaching and improving intrapersonal and interpersonal life skills through the curriculum, creating better learning environments and offering the students opportunities for participation and cooperation. We believe the participants will have a valuable and inspiring experience, update their teaching skills, acquire new tools, network with colleagues from other European countries and enjoy a look into the Cyprus culture and environment. The course utilizes the methodology of the project “Social Skills and Healthier Self Esteem” (SHE). SHE was the first Cypriot Grundtvig centralized-approved project; it was developed and coordinated by the SYNTHESIS Center for Research and Education. It was a pioneer project as it recognized the importance of social skills and self esteem for the well being and success of individuals, before even the European Commission recognized them as social and civic competences. The project gave emphasis to “social circles” as learning setting so that participants feel comfortable to be; defined the characteristics of the good facilitator by giving emphasis on the human rather than the academic qualities and developed a non-formal methodology based on discussion and reflection. Its content was life skills, social and emotional learning. These life skills and the social and emotional learning carried out by the “Social Skills and Healthier self Esteem” project and its methodology will be utilised in the current training. For further information and a preliminary program, please follow this link: http://ec.europa.eu/education/trainingdatabase/index.cfm?fuseaction=DisplayCourse&cid=30486 or send an email to charalca@hotmail.com to receive a pre-registration form.