Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education

 

Date of this Version

Spring 2021

Document Type

Article

Citation

To Improve the Academy: A Journal of Educational Development (spring 2021) 39(3)

doi: 10.3998/tia.17063888.0039.301

Special issue: Educational Development in the Time of Crises

Comments

License: CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to reflect on the pertinence and utility of using a trauma-informed lens in educational development. A trauma-informed approach is a framework grounded in an understanding of and responsiveness to the impact of trauma. After I describe the primary source of traumatic stress many faculty members are experiencing, I offer trauma-informed suggestions for how educational developers can help mitigate the effects of that stress. Importantly, in order to do this work of supporting faculty effectively and sustainably, it is critical that educational developers continue to attend to their own well-being. The overarching theme of this article is the importance of cultivating empowering relationships to help engage faculty members in supporting and improving the design and development of inclusive and equitable student learning experiences.

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