1.1 Understanding barriers and enablers to wellbeing
There are ‘barriers’ and ‘enablers’ present within situations and experiences in the learning environment that have the potential to compromise or support wellbeing, induce or remove stress and limit or bolster resilience, contributing to learners either struggling or being able to cope well. The activities that follow will enable you to explore these.
Activity _unit8.2.1 Activity 1 What can support or compromise learner wellbeing?
Within your learning environment, note 5–10 activities or factors that have the potential to support or compromise your learners’ wellbeing.
Discussion
Due to the nature of your learning environment, your learners, or even the subject matter being taught, your answers will vary. However, some common themes might include the following:
- assessments and exams
- receiving feedback and celebrating success
- working in groups
- relationships with other learners
- study skills such as taking notes, referencing, and creating a study timetable
- speaking in front of the class and giving a presentation
- supporting specific health needs of students
- classroom rules and expectations
- offering culturally relevant lessons
- respecting individual identity and appropriately considering this within the environment
- valuing students’ choices
- overall academic success of learners
- learners’ ability to balance study with other pressures in their life.
However, as an educator you have many opportunities to provide your learners with positive educational experiences, boost their resilience and enhance their wellbeing. The next section will consider in more detail how you might make the most of such opportunities.
There are many factors impacting how your learners feel that are outside of your control. Think back to Week 1 and the model for the Determinants of Health (Dahlgren and Whitehead, 2021). However, as an educator you have many opportunities to provide your learners with positive educational experiences, boost their resilience and enhance their wellbeing. The next section will consider in more detail how you might make the most of such opportunities.