when the going gets tough: developing emotional resilience in first year students sue morgan senior...
TRANSCRIPT
When the going gets tough:Developing Emotional Resilience in
First Year Students
Sue MorganSenior Lecturer and Clinical Placement Coordinator
in Diagnostic Radiographyhttp://padlet.com/sue_morgan/resilience
Before we begin...
• http://padlet.com/sue_morgan/resilience
Why this session?
Diagnostic Radiography at BCU
• Faculty of Health, Education & Life Sciences• 118 DR students per intake• 50/50 spilt of clinical placement and academic • Elongated academic year – 42 weeks• Placement – 34.5 hours per week• Academic – approx 20 hours per week
• No tuition fees; means tested bursary
Diagnostic Radiography Students• 75% mature• 46% ethnic minority• 92% non-traditional entry qualifications• 58% female / 42% male
Why resilience?• Increasing number of students apparently unable to
cope with demands of programme• Anecdotally affecting attrition and success • Placement appeared to be main problem• In reality placement not sole issue• “Being a student is difficult.....”• Not all students• Spread across different “types” of students
What is resilience?
• Complex, multifaceted (Grant & Kinman, 2013)• Ability to adapt / bounce back• Survive and function in adversity• Educational vs. socio-emotional resilience (Walker
et al, 2006)• Is it a trait or can it be taught?
Resilience
Insight, self-
awareness,
emotional
intelligence Humour
Self belief
Initiative &
problem
solving skills
Creativity
Relationships /
support
networks
Independence
& social
confidence
Morality;
empathy;
cultural
competence
Determination
& coping skills
Can we spot a resilient student?
Can we spot a resilient student?
Thrive, survive (or going under...)
Student A40 yr old, white♀Access course, 3 childrenSingle parentLives 35 from universityWas a shop assistant
Student B20 yr old; white ♂Living in accommodation10 miles to placementA-levels. Good gradesPart time job
Student C19 yr old; British Asian ♂Lives with parents; 5 miles to university; 20 miles to placement; BTEC straight from schoolPart time job
Student D29 yr old; Black African ♀2 children; has husbandAccess courseLives 2 miles from universityPart time job
Thrives Survives just!
Goes
under Survives
How is resilience measured?
Helping students to become more resilient..... • ABCs• Self-awareness• Relaxation• Worst case scenario• SuperBetter
dversity
elief
onsequence
Self-awareness
•Self awareness is key to emotional resilience
•What qualities make me feel good about myself?•What can I offer the world around me?•What is my own definition of happiness?•What value do you put on yourself?
Factors which lead to positive change & outcomes
Factors which may compromise development
Internal attribut
es
Strengths• What are you good at?• What do you do well?• What are you proud of?• What previous skills/
knowledge/experience do you have?
Weaknesses • What do you struggle
with?• What do you need to
improve?• What do you avoid?
External
attributes
Opportunities • What support network do
you have?• How is this course
changing your life?
Challenges• What external pressures
may affect you?• Who/what may get in
your way?
An Oak or A Palm?
Relaxation.....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbNZ1pi2Us8
Worst case scenario – putting it in perspective
Control…
• Perceiving to be in control is a good predictor of coping with stressful events (Funk 1992)
SuperBetter
• A tool / game designed to strengthen emotional, physical, social and mental resilience
• Available as app or via web:• http://www.superbetter.com/
• Basic principles can be demonstrated to students…
http://www.ted.com/talks/jane_mcgonigal_the_game_that_can_give_you_10_extra_years_of_life
Physical resilience
• If you can move one part of your body for one minute every hour that you’re awake your physical resilience will improve!
Mental resilience
• If you complete one small mental challenge every day without giving up you will increase metal focus and determination
Emotional resilience
• If you can do three tiny things a day that make you feel good and provoke positive emotion you will improve your emotional resilience!
Social resilience
• Touch and gratitude are just two ways to strengthen your social connections. If you can reach out to one person a day, online or face to face you will improve your social resilience!
• Being a first year student is hard• There are many challenges in transition• Students have to develop their own resilience• We can give them the tools to achieve this
To summarise
References • Funk, S.C. (1995) Hardiness: a review of theory and
research. Health Psycology 11(5), 335-45.• Grant, L. and Kinman, G. (2014) Emotional Resilience in
the Helping Professions and how it can be Enhanced. Health and Social Care Education 3(1), 23-34.
• Walker, C. Gleaves, A. & Grey, J. (2006) Can students within higher education learn to be resilient and, educationally speaking, does it matter? Educational Studies 32(3), 251-264.