Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum
Develop your skills in embedding student mental health and wellbeing in teaching, learning, assessment and peer support activities
Duration
12 weeksWeekly study
13 hours
Teacher Development: Embedding Mental Health in the Curriculum
Growing numbers of students at schools, colleges and universities are experiencing mental health issues. The act of learning can be extremely positive for student mental wellbeing. However, in other cases it can exacerbate or cause mental health difficulties. Educators can do more to embed mental wellbeing in their teaching in order to prevent or mitigate mental health issues. Calls to action on student mental health have been made globally, yet there is little guidance in this area. This course will equip you to increase learners’ mental wellbeing through inclusive teaching strategies.
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the different ways in which mental health is defined and discussed and of the relationship between mental health and learning in diverse global contexts.
- Design teaching, learning and assessment activities that promote mental wellbeing and are conducive to positive mental health
- Identify and critically evaluate some of the barriers to embedding mental health into the curriculum and the ways in which they might be managed.
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the potential impact of educational technologies on student mental health, and critically evaluate how those technologies can be used to enhance student wellbeing.
- Evaluate existing curriculum content and identify potential impacts, positive and negative, on student mental health.
- Synthesise and critically evaluate relevant experience, accounts and formal research evidence as the basis for recommending appropriate ways of designing curricula that are conducive to student mental health and wellbeing.
Who is the course for?
The course is intended for teachers, trainers, learning designers, educational technologists, heads of department and institution leaders in a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, universities, workplace learning settings and other learning environments. It has a global focus and is relevant for learners from countries around the world.
Who will you learn with?
Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman leads The Open University's Masters in Online Teaching programme. Her research explores the relationship between equity, social justice, online teaching and open pedagogies.
Kate Lister is a lecturer in education at the Open University and is an expert associate at Advance HE. Her research focuses on disability, accessibility and mental wellbeing in learning.
Dr Simon Ball (he/him) is an Open University tutor and consultant researcher, specialising in inclusive online learning, educational technologies & accessibility, following a PhD in ecology.
Dr Tim Coughlan is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Technology at The Open University, researching the design and evaluation of technologies for inclusion, participation and accessibility in learning.
Senior Lecturer in Psychology at The Open University. My research spans several psychological domains, including: mental health & wellbeing, eHealth, neurotoxicology and applied cognitive psychology.
Who developed the course?
The Open University
As the UK’s largest university, The Open University (OU) supports thousands of students to achieve their goals and ambitions via supported distance learning, helping to fit learning around professional and personal life commitments.
Established
1969Location
Milton Keynes, UKWorld ranking
Top 510Source: Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
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