EDPSY 422Learning and Development in the Context of Adversity and Trauma

3 credits · Educational Psychology · Penn State

This course will provide students with an overview of the learning and developmental impact of adversity and trauma on children and youth with a particular focus on trauma-informed strategies to promote health and wellness within educational settings. Students will explore the physical, emotional, and psychosocial effects of adversity across the lifespan, along with evidence-based and evidence-informed practices to create a safe and supportive learning environment in classrooms, schools, and broader communities. Course content will cover a) literature highlighting the complexity inherent in understanding adversity's concomitant risks and differential impact for students, classrooms, and beyond; b) theories on learning, development, and adversity; c) trauma-informed frameworks; d) evidence-informed practices; e) identification of student needs and services due to adversity; f) trauma-informed competencies; g) cultural context of adversity. At the conclusion of the course, students will have an understanding of the developmental impact of adversity on children's learning and be able to identify and provide a safe, stable, and nurturing learning environment to prevent further re-traumatization and mitigate the effects of trauma to promote positive outcomes.