• CEESA
  • Conference 2016
  • Lectures
  • Moving Students Beyond Risk to Resiliency: A Protective Factor Approach Linking Social-Emotional Wellbeing to Academic Success by Tim Burns
Monday, 16 November 2015 09:11

Moving Students Beyond Risk to Resiliency: A Protective Factor Approach Linking Social-Emotional Wellbeing to Academic Success by Tim Burns

This workshop addresses the following questions: Of the many variables affect student learning -- among which are factors related to stress-hardiness, social and emotional wellbeing, ability to focus and attend, and the ability to bounce back from setbacks of all kinds -- which specific "protective factors" (as determined by behavioral research) can have the biggest positive impact on learning? How can classroom teachers and school leaders assess for the presence (or absence) of critical protective factors affecting student wellbeing and academic success and, most importantly, ensure their active presence in the school environment?

While at first glance, it would appear that international school children -- because of myriad social, financial, and demographic advantages -- are uniquely positioned to avoid many of the stressors that commonly affect far less advantaged young people. However, in various ways this is not the case.

Over the last half-century, the phenomenon of human resiliency -- the innate capacity to bounce back from adversity and creatively adapt to stress -- has been systematically studied and it’s underpinnings revealed through research in the behavioral- and neuro-sciences. The result of this protective factor research has been to clarify guidelines on how best to affect positive youth development. When applied consistently and mindfully in the school setting these strategies can positively affect school climate, student well-being and academic success. After a brief summary of pertinent research findings, workshop participants will be introduced to a framework for analyzing and enhancing the Significant Six protective factors in the school environment.

Tim Burns

tim-burns

Tim Burns is an educator and author whose background includes over thirty years of experience. 

Tim Burns is an educator and author whose background includes over thirty years of experience as public school teacher and counselor, First Offender Program facilitator, adolescent and family drug-treatment program director, university instructor, professional development consultant and conference presenter.

Since 1986, he has taught graduate and undergraduate courses for the Division of Extended Studies, Adams State College, Alamosa, Colorado. Over the years, he has provided conference keynote addresses and workshops to over three thousand schools and educational organizations in over 25 countries throughout North and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

Tim’s popular brain presentations encompass students, grades pre-K through high school, faculty and parents.