The Heart of Education: An Introduction to The Virtues Project

Educator Well-being: An Essential for Staff and Student Flourishing

Embark on a transformative journey with “Educator Well-being: An Essential for Staff and Student Flourishing.” This course empowers you to deepen you connections to yourself and others, elevate emotional intelligence, and effectively tackle well-being challenges like burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral injury. Discover the transformative power of self-compassion and gracefully navigate obstacles. Explore diverse, research-based stress reduction techniques to cultivate inner peace, joy, and positive energy. Craft and implement a personalized well-being toolkit for sustained daily thriving. Throughout this journey, you’ll gain practical tools to immediately apply at home and in the classroom, enabling you to remain purposeful and make a meaningful contribution to your school community and beyond.

Educators can earn 3 university credits for recertification and salary advancement from Shepherd University for only $198.00. Click on this link Shepherd EDPD-Registration to access the registration form to submit to Shepherd.

Below are the details for the Registration Information:

CRN#:15376     Subject: EDPD    Course#: 699   Section: 047   Cr Hrs: 3    Title: Educ Wellbe for Staff/Stdn

Please email Sharika Abdul-Muhaimin at Shepherd University or call her at 304-876-5313 with any registration questions and support.

The course begins with a 3-hour synchronous Zoom class with students from 10:00 am -1:00 pm EST on Monday, June 24, 2024   

Educators continue working asynchronously utilizing the full range of resources and discussion boards on the Padlet.  Educators are required to submit their final project no later than July 31^st at 6:00 pm EST.

Goals/Objectives:  As a result of actively participating in this course, educators will… 

1. Demonstrate their ability to develop meaningful connections by actively engaging in reflective practices, as well as authentic and open interactions, fostering a positive and supportive environment both personally and professionally.
2. Exhibit enhanced emotional intelligence by effectively reflecting on, identifying, and managing their own emotions, showcasing a heightened awareness and control in various situations.
3. Apply their understanding of burnout, compassion fatigue, and moral injury by accurately identifying signs and implementing measures to mitigate these challenges within themselves and their professional spheres.
4. Assess and manifest an increased capacity for self-compassion, as measured through self-evaluations and observed instances of self-supportive behavior in response to challenges and setbacks.
5. Utilize diverse, research-based stress reduction techniques, as evidenced by their consistent application of these methods proactively and in response to stressors, resulting in increased peacefulness and positive energy.
6. Explore, select, and utilize diverse tools and strategies to create their own self-care/wellbeing toolkit. This will be evidenced by the compilation and effective utilization of these resources in their daily lives, contributing to sustained well-being.

Application of Resources: Explain the use of instructional materials and completing the learning activities

Educators will utilize the interactive features of Zoom including breakout rooms, chat, whiteboards, and surveys to engage in meaningful connections during the 3-hour synchronous session.

Educators will utilize a variety of resources on the padlet, such as interactive assessments, articles, videos, podcasts, etc… and will use the comments feature to engage in sharing with one another throughout the course.

Course Overview:  List the various areas of study that students will investigate

1. Developing Meaningful Connections
2. Enhanced Emotional Intelligences
3. Applying Understanding of Well-being Challenges
4. Increased Self-Compassion
5. Utilizing Stress Reduction Techniques
6. Creating a Personalized Wellbeing Toolkit

Assessment: 

• 3 hours: Actively participate in the synchronous zoom session and complete a feedback reflection form at the end of the session.
• 2 hours: Explore the variety of assessments. Take at least 2 different assessments. Reflect on the outcomes and the suggested activities to explore. Journal your reflections.  Identify 3 goals to focus on to enhance your wellbeing.
• 15 hours: Research using the variety of resources on the padlet, and any additional resources that you find meaningful to help you move toward accomplishing your wellbeing goals. On the padlet, add comments to at least 3 of the resources you found helpful and elevating what you found that was meaningful. You are also encouraged to add any additional resources you find elsewhere on the padlet under the sharing section. Be sure to include your name on all padlet comments.
• 2 hours: Create your 21-day wellbeing plan, incorporating what you have learned as a result of your research. Be sure to include at least 3 activities or behaviors you will commit to doing, or stop doing, over the course of the next 21 days.
• 21 hours: Spend at least 1 hour a day for 21 days applying what you have learned about your own wellbeing. Use your creativity to keep track of your progress and how you are feeling as a result of following through with your plan and/or what may be getting in the way of you being able to follow through with your plan. 
• 2 hours: Reflect on your 3-week journey of wellbeing. Write up a reflection about your 21-day wellbeing journey and the impact is has had on you personally and professionally. Share how your transformation has impacted others.  Alternatively, you may create a 10-slide presentation sharing with other educators ideas they can try for their own wellbeing. Be sure to site your resources.

Total Hours: 45