Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/managing-emotions-uncertainty-stress

Introduction

### Course Review: Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress In today's fast-paced educational environment, managing emotions is more essential than ever. To that end, Coursera offers a remarkable course titled *Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress*, developed by the esteemed Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. This 10-hour online course is specifically designed for school staff, including teachers, counselors, and non-teaching personnel in preK-12 schools, aiming to equip them with the tools needed to navigate the emotional challenges that come with uncertainty and stress. #### Course Overview *Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress* is a well-structured course that takes a deep dive into the nature of emotions and their impact on both educators and students. The emphasis is on recognizing, understanding, and managing emotions, thus laying a solid foundation for emotional intelligence in the educational setting. The course is divided into several modules, making it easy for participants to engage with the material and gradually build their emotional intelligence skills. #### Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Introduction to SEL and Why Emotions Matter**: The course kicks off with an essential introduction to Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), establishing the significance of emotions in various aspects of life, from decision-making to performance. This foundational module prepares participants to understand the psychological landscape they are about to explore. 2. **Identifying Our Emotions**: This module focuses on self-awareness, emphasizing the importance of accurately labeling and understanding one’s own emotions. Utilizing tools like the Mood Meter, educators learn to identify their feelings, which is vital for developing emotional intelligence. 3. **Managing Our Own Emotions with Action Strategies**: Knowing your emotions is just the first step. This section introduces various "action strategies" to manage emotions effectively, fostering a sense of agency and promoting well-being among staff. 4. **Managing Emotions by Shifting How We Think**: Here, the focus shifts to cognitive strategies. Participants learn how to alter their thought patterns to influence their emotions positively. This module encourages practical applications of psychological research in everyday situations. 5. **Becoming a Culturally Responsive Emotion Scientist**: A critical aspect of emotional intelligence involves understanding cultural nuances in emotional expression. This section addresses biases in emotional management and advocacy for a culturally responsive approach, enriching participants' interactions in a diverse educational environment. 6. **Identifying Others' Emotions**: In this section, attendees practice recognizing emotions in others, particularly students. This module highlights barriers to emotional understanding and teaches strategies to enhance empathy and connection within the classroom. 7. **Helping Others Manage Emotions**: Building on the skills of emotion identification, this section covers techniques for guiding others—especially students—through emotional challenges. The "emotion co-regulation" model and a five-step process for supporting students in distress are key takeaways. 8. **Making a Commitment to Lasting Change**: Finally, participants synthesize all acquired knowledge and create action plans to ensure lasting changes in their emotional practices. This commitment reinforces accountability and personal growth within the educational framework. #### Recommendation *Managing Emotions in Times of Uncertainty & Stress* is an outstanding course that provides invaluable skills for educators. The curriculum is thoughtfully designed, balancing theory with practical application, ensuring that participants can immediately implement what they learn in their educational settings. The course not only benefits the educators by enhancing their emotional intelligence but also directly impacts student outcomes. By fostering an emotionally aware environment, educators can create a more supportive and productive atmosphere for learning. In conclusion, I highly recommend this course to any educational professional looking to enhance their emotional management skills and better support their students during these uncertain times. It's an investment in personal and professional development that will yield positive effects both in and out of the classroom.

Syllabus

Introduction to SEL and Why Emotions Matter

Social and emotional skills are more important now than ever. As educators, we can find ways to better identify and manage our own emotions, which in turn, can help our students identify and manage theirs. In this introductory week, we’ll unpack how emotions can help and hinder attention, decision making, relationships, health, and performance.

In this section, you'll focus on how to identify your own emotions, which is an essential first step to building emotional intelligence skills. You'll explore how to recognize, understand, and accurately label emotions using the Mood Meter. This section builds a foundation for the rest of the course, where you'll learn how to manage your emotions and help students to manage theirs.

In this section, you'll apply what you've learned about identifying your emotions to the practice of managing your emotions. You'll explore and reflect on a series of "action strategies" to help you manage your emotions in healthy, productive ways.

While the previous section focused on "action strategies" to support healthy emotion management, this section focuses on "thought strategies." You'll consider research-based ways to shift the way you think to shift the way you feel, and consider how you can incorporate these strategies into your daily life.

This section focuses on applying strategies for approaching your own and others' emotions in scientific and culturally responsive ways. You'll have the opportunity to describe the biases involved in identifying and managing emotions, as well as to reflect on the potential impact of your own biases on your interactions with others.

While the first half of the course focused on identifying your own emotions, this section focuses on strategies for improving your awareness of others' emotions (especially the emotions of your students). You'll explore the barriers to understanding others' emotions and ways to improve this skill as an emotion scientist.

This section takes your skills in identifying others' emotions a step further, providing research-based steps to help others manage their emotions. You will be introduced to the concept of emotion co-regulation, as well as a five-step process to support students in moments of high stress.

This final section brings together everything so far in the course. You'll look at your action plans from each section of the course and make a commitment to lasting change.