• University of Reading

Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School

Develop your understanding of learning and teaching and build your confidence in supporting students in secondary school.

10,885 enrolled on this course

Educator and students on a school campus
  • Duration

    4 weeks
  • Weekly study

    3 hours

Improve the support you provide to students' learning in secondary school

Engaging young people in the classroom can be a challenge for teachers and teaching assistants. Secondary school students often learn differently to younger students. This can require a different teaching approach.

On this course, you will learn how to support effective learning experiences in secondary schools, exploring the different ways secondary school students learn. You will also reflect on your own values and biases to improve your confidence and working practice.

By the end of the course you should feel more confident in your ability to support secondary school students.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 1 second University of Reading Grow your skills in supporting teaching and learning

Skip to 0 minutes and 9 seconds Build your confidence and understanding in the classroom

Skip to 0 minutes and 15 seconds Join the debate with teaching experts

Skip to 0 minutes and 20 seconds Hear what secondary school students have to say

Skip to 0 minutes and 25 seconds A free online course on FutureLearn: Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School

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What topics will you cover?

Week 1 theme: You and others

  • An introduction to values, beliefs and attitudes.
  • Understanding the unconscious bias
  • Looking at your own biases and reflecting upon them
  • Reflecting on your own values

Week 2: How people learn

  • An introduction to how people learn
  • Exploring a student’s view of their environment through their eyes, as well as hearing about their world views
  • Looking at the expectations we have of students
  • Building on what students know and what they should know

Week 3: The environment for learning

  • An introduction to the learning environment and what it consists of
  • Exploring misconceptions about managing a classroom and finding out what teaching is like in reality
  • Understanding the psychology behind primary and secondary behaviours

Week 4: Communication, language and literacy

  • Introduction to aspects of communication within teaching
  • Learners to take part in activities that include communicating and listening
  • Exploring the importance of asking the right question
  • Share examples of good practice
  • How to plan effective questions for the classroom.

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

  • Available now

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 confidence to work more effectively in supporting and teaching at secondary level.
  • Apply the course as a tool for teaching and classroom support.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the advice available to consider teaching as a career.

Who is the course for?

This course is ideal for teaching assistants in secondary schools. It will also be of interest to teachers returning to work, newly qualified teachers, unqualified staff, as well as providing a refresher for current teachers. Parents of children in schools may also find this course useful in helping them to support and encourage their children’s learning.

This course focusses on teaching in secondary schools. If you work in a primary school, you may like to join Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools.

Who will you learn with?

I am Professor of Outdoor Learning and Play at the University of Reading. I am also Director of the Postgraduate Certificate in Healthcare Education.

Who developed the course?

University of Reading

The University of Reading has a reputation for excellence in teaching, research and enterprise.

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
  • Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate

Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn

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Get a taste of this course

Find out what this course is like by previewing some of the course steps before you join:

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