Trauma-Informed Pedagogy
Trauma-informed pedagogy is an approach to teaching and learning that is responsive to the diverse experiences of both individual and community trauma within academic settings. It focuses on fostering resilience in learners by creating safe, supportive, and inclusive environments that remove barriers to participation and prevent re-traumatization. This approach also recognizes how learning environments have contributed to the harm and exclusion of historically, persistently, and systemically marginalized communities in academia.
Educators who practice trauma-informed teaching prioritize building trust, ensuring consistency, promoting consent-based processes, and centering well-being. These strategies allow for adjustments in teaching and curriculum to meet the varied needs of students. Importantly, trauma-informed pedagogy does not shy away from difficult conversations or challenging subjects, but instead, ensures that the learning environment remains both academically supportive and emotionally nurturing.
Learn More
- Short Articles
- Journal Articles
- Kumagai AK, Jackson B, Razack S. Cutting Close to the Bone: Student Trauma, Free Speech, and Institutional Responsibility in Medical Education. Academic medicine. 2017;92:318-323.
- Trundle C, Vaeau T. Cultivating a trauma‐informed pedagogy decolonizing pathways for anthropology in aotearoa new zealand. American ethnologist. 08/2023;50(3):446-452. doi: 10.1111/amet.13187.
- Arbour M. Trauma‐Informed pedagogy: Instructional strategies to support student success. Journal of midwifery & women’s health. 01/2024;69(1):25-32. doi: 10.1111/jmwh.13539.
- Books
- Stromberg E. Trauma informed pedagogy in higher education : A faculty guide for teaching and learning. Routledge; 2023.
- Thompson P. Trauma-informed pedagogies A guide for responding to crisis and inequality in higher education. Springer International Publishing; 2022.
Hiring
REDI Best Practices: Hiring
- REDI Best Practices: Designing a Faculty In-Person Interview Experience for Success
This tip sheet outlines the essentials of structuring an effective and inclusive faculty interview process at UBC. The in-person interview is a critical step in hiring, involving traditional Q&A sessions, teaching demonstrations, and strategic meetings with leadership and potential colleagues. It ensures that every candidate feels valued and has an equal opportunity to demonstrate their capabilities. - REDI Best Practices: EDI Criteria & Interview Questions in Faculty and Staff Searches
This tip sheet offers a structured framework for reflecting on essential EDI considerations when developing a faculty hiring process, offering guidance to consider before writing the job posting, before reviewing applications, and before selecting interview questions. Offering several lists of selection criteria and interview questions, it is a prompt for hiring committees to think deeply about the meaning of “excellence” and approach the entirety of the hiring process with inclusion in mind. - REDI Best Practices: Managing Power Dynamics
In the intricate world of hiring, power imbalances within a committee can shape outcomes. Master the art of inclusive chairing practices in hiring decisions with this guide and transform hiring deliberations into a collaborative journey where every perspective is valued. - REDI Best Practices: Mitigating Cognitive Biases in Hiring
In the quest for equity in hiring, one formidable obstacle stands in the way: cognitive biases. These subtle yet powerful biases infiltrate the decision-making process, often leading to unconscious discrimination. ‘Mitigating Cognitive Biases in Hiring’ is your indispensable tip sheet, offering insights and strategies to level the playing field. - REDI Best Practices: Inclusive Job Postings
Are you ready to transform your hiring process and open the doors to talent from historically marginalized backgrounds? Introducing the “REDI Best Practices for Equitable and Inclusive Job Postings.” This tip sheet will support you in crafting job descriptions that actively invite and embrace members of historically marginalized groups.
REDI Deep Dive: Hiring
- REDI Deep Dives: Bias Busters
This Deep Dive slide deck is designed to bust biases and inspire action within your team. Through a series of short activities, this resource empowers teams to identify biases and strategies on mitigating their impact on decision-making. Dive into a 30-minute session coupled with a dynamic 20-minute pre-session homework activity, tailored for any team eager to enhance their decision-making processes. Ideal for all teams, especially those involved in high-stakes adjudication decisions (such as hiring, or research grants) or time-sensitive situations (like emergency doctors or surgeons), where biases can significantly influence outcomes. Empower your team to make decisions with clarity and fairness with these Bias Busters.