Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War: Global Perspectives

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/resilience-in-children

Introduction

### Course Review and Recommendation: "Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War: Global Perspectives" In an increasingly unstable world marked by conflict, disaster, and trauma, understanding how to foster resilience in children has become a paramount concern for educators, psychologists, and policymakers alike. Coursera's course titled **"Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War: Global Perspectives"** offers participants a comprehensive exploration of this critical topic, blending theoretical frameworks with practical insights and case studies. #### Overview The course addresses vital questions: How do children navigate hazardous experiences to emerge successfully? What measures can be enacted to shield vulnerable youth from traumatic events? Through six detailed modules, participants will unravel the complex interplay between trauma and resilience, learning about historical advancements in resilience research and its applications in modern contexts. #### Course Structure **Week 1: Origins and Landmark Studies in the Science of Resilience in Children** The course kicks off by introducing participants to the foundational concepts of resilience. Discussions encourage personal reflections and foundational collaborations as learners share their own stories of resilience and draw from films and books that resonate with the topic. **Week 2: Methods and Models of Research on Resilience (including case studies)** In the second module, participants delve into the various research methodologies employed in resilience studies, such as person-focused and variable-focused approaches. The examination of Dr. Maddaus's case study is particularly engaging, as it brings real-world relevance to theoretical concepts. **Week 3: Effects on Children of Natural and Technological Disasters** Focus shifts to the impacts of disasters on children, integrating video interviews with leading experts. With an emphasis on recovery patterns post-trauma, participants gain insights into coping mechanisms and community responses, exemplified by insights from the Joplin tornado incident. **Week 4: Resilience in Children Exposed to War and Political Violence** This week is perhaps one of the most poignant and revealing aspects of the course. It addresses the stark realities children face during war and unrest, coupled with discussions about resilience. Special topics featuring narratives of survival provide a personal connection to the material, inspiring deeper discussions in forums. **Week 5: Roles of Families, Schools, Culture, and Community in Promoting Resilience of Children** In this module, the course synthesizes findings on protective factors that contribute to resilience. The “ordinary magic” concept introduced by Professor Masten emphasizes the integral roles families, educational institutions, and cultural contexts play in cultivating resilience in young people. **Week 6: A Resilience Framework for Action, Enduring Controversies, and New Horizons in the Study of Resilience** The concluding week presents a structured framework for designing interventions to promote resilience. In addition, Professor Masten discusses evolving controversies and new research avenues, such as neurobiology and the influence of cultural contexts, which stimulate further inquiry and application. #### Recommendations This course is exceptionally well-structured for professionals in educational, psychological, and social work fields, as well as for anyone invested in childhood development and trauma recovery. Participants will benefit from the following: - **Broad Perspectives**: The global outlook on resilience provides a diversely informed understanding that transcends cultural and geopolitical boundaries. - **Practical Applications**: Insights into how research translates into real-world interventions empower participants to make actionable changes in their practices. - **Community Interactions**: Engagement in discussion forums enriches learning through shared experiences, fostering a sense of community among participants. - **Resource-Rich Content**: The inclusion of case studies, expert interviews, and historical research affords a well-rounded educational experience. In conclusion, **"Resilience in Children Exposed to Trauma, Disaster and War: Global Perspectives"** on Coursera is an essential course for anyone dedicated to understanding and promoting resilience in children facing adversity. Through its engaging content and expert insights, it equips learners with the knowledge and tools necessary to effect meaningful change in the lives of vulnerable youth. I wholeheartedly recommend this course to educators, mental health professionals, and community leaders looking to deepen their understanding of resilience and its foundational role in helping children thrive despite their experiences.

Syllabus

Week 1: Origins and Landmark Studies in the Science of Resilience in Children

The first module of this course provides an introduction to the course and to the science of resilience. Video lectures discuss the meaning of resilience and the origins of resilience science. Participants will begin to think about case examples of resilience from their own experience and plan for a resilience interview. In the forum discussions, participants will introduce themselves, discuss the meaning of resilience and its importance in their work. Participants also will nominate favorite films and books about true stories of resilience:

This module highlights the models and methods used in resilience science, including person-focused methods and variable-focused methods. The case study of Dr. Maddaus continues and the case of resilience in early childhood is presented.

This module focuses on what has been learned from research on children who experience disasters, including the effects on children and patterns of recovery. Participants will watch a video interview with an expert on children in disaster and additional videos on damage and recovery following the F5 Joplin tornado. Participants will also complete a survey on disaster experiences.

This module highlights what has been learned about the effects of war, terror, and political violence on children and youth. What are the effects of these violent experiences on young people? What has been learned about resilience? We will examine the provocative literature on youth who voluntarily get involved in political conflicts or war. The concluding lecture considers new approaches to peace-building and what might be done to promote peace through interventions with children. This week also features 4 special topics on resilience in young people who experienced the trauma of war and conflict. Choose one or more of the special topics and watch these moving stories of survival. Post your thoughts in the special topics discussion forums on each of these options. If you have time, watch them all. These accounts of resilience are very compelling.

This module summarizes the findings on protective factors for resilience in children. Professor Masten presents her ideas about the adaptive systems that account for most of the capacity for resilience in children, what she has called “ordinary magic.” The roles of families, schools, and culture in resilience are discussed.

In video lectures this final week of the course, Professor Masten presents a general resilience framework for designing interventions and programs to promote resilience. She also discusses enduring controversies in the study of resilience and new frontiers, including the neurobiology of resilience and growing research on the role of culture in resilience. The course concludes with highlights about growing global work on resilience and final “take home” messages from the course.