Empowering Educators: Mastering Soft Skills for Transformative Teaching

Course overview

This immersive 5-day course is designed to equip educators with essential soft skills that are crucial for creating a transformative and engaging learning environment. Participants will explore strategies to improve communication, active listening, and public speaking abilities, enabling them to connect with students effectively and foster a positive classroom atmosphere.

The course will delve into the principles of motivation, providing educators with insights and techniques to inspire and encourage students to reach their full potential. Participants will learn how to cultivate a growth mindset and create a supportive learning environment that nurtures curiosity and a love for learning.

Emphasis will be placed on developing leadership and collaboration skills, empowering educators to build strong relationships with colleagues, students, and stakeholders. Participants will gain insights into effective teamwork, conflict resolution, and problem-solving strategies, enabling them to navigate challenges and create a cohesive and productive educational community.

The course will also focus on emotional awareness and self-management, equipping educators with tools to manage stress, maintain work-life balance, and cultivate emotional intelligence. Participants will explore relaxation methods and mindfulness practices, enabling them to model resilience and emotional well-being for their students.

To enhance the learning experience and provide a cultural context, the course will incorporate a guided visit to a local museum, heritage site, or eco-conscious initiative. This visit will allow participants to explore the cultural richness of the area, draw inspiration from sustainable practices, and gain insights into incorporating inclusive and green dimensions into their teaching methodologies.

Tentative schedule:

Day 1: Foundations of soft skills for transformative teaching

Icebreakers and networking activities
Introduction to the course and participants
Overview of the course methodology and expectations
Exploring the importance and benefits of soft skills for educators
Group discussions: Sharing personal experiences and challenges in the classroom

Day 2: Effective communication and presentation skills

Improving communication and active listening techniques
Strategies for fostering motivation and engagement in the classroom
Public speaking and presentation skills for educators
Practical exercises and peer feedback

Day 3: Leadership, collaboration, and cultural exploration

Principles of leadership and self-confidence in the educational setting
Building collaborative relationships and effective teamwork
Cultural visit (e.g. museum, heritage site) guided in English to explore local heritage and environmental practices
Post-visit activities: Incorporating cultural and environmental elements into teaching practices

Day 4: Emotional intelligence and problem-solving

Emotional awareness and self-management for educators
Developing creativity and problem-solving skills
Conflict resolution and negotiation strategies
Group activities and case studies

Day 5: Stress management and work-life balance

Recognizing and managing stress in the educational environment
Relaxation methods and mindfulness practices for educators
Creating a healthy work-life balance
Course evaluation and feedback
Certification ceremony

The classes typically run from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, with the afternoon and evening reserved for self-reflection and individual study. However, the course schedule may be adjusted to accommodate the preferences of the participants and the availability of instructors or external learning locations. Participants will receive the finalized schedule well in advance, allowing ample time for preparation and planning.

Learning outcomes:

The participants will be able to:

Analyze the importance and benefits of soft skills for educators in creating a transformative learning environment.
Demonstrate effective communication and active listening techniques to connect with students and foster a positive classroom atmosphere.
Develop strategies to cultivate motivation and engagement among students, inspiring them to reach their full potential.
Apply principles of leadership and self-confidence in the educational setting, building collaborative relationships and effective teamwork.
Utilize emotional awareness and self-management strategies to manage stress, maintain work-life balance, and model emotional intelligence for students.
Implement creativity and problem-solving skills to navigate challenges and create innovative solutions in the educational context.
Employ conflict resolution and negotiation strategies to foster a cohesive and productive educational community.
Integrate cultural elements and inspiration from local heritage and sustainable practices into their teaching methodologies, promoting inclusive and environmentally conscious practices.
Evaluate and adapt relaxation methods and mindfulness practices to cultivate resilience and emotional well-being for themselves and their students.
Develop a personalized action plan to continuously improve their soft skills and create a transformative learning experience for their students.

Course fee:

400 euro per participant (covered entirely by the Erasmus grant)

Course fee includes:

At least 25 hours of course content;
Course materials;
Certificate of participation;
Europass, on request;
Learning / Mobility Agreement;
Visits to local institutions, if available;
Personalized support;
Free high-speed WIFI internet at the POU Čakovec premises;
Refreshments;
Administration costs;
Dissemination materials.

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