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Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School

Week 1 theme: You and others Week 2: How people learn Week 3: The environment for learning Week 4: Communication, language and literacy Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course is ideal for teaching assistants in secondary schools. It will also be of interest to teachers returning to work, newly qualified teachers, unqualified staff, as well as providing a refresher for current teachers. Parents of children in schools may also find this course useful in helping them to support and encourage their children’s learning. This course focusses on teaching in secondary schools. If you work in a primary school, you may like to join Supporting Successful Learning in Primary Schools . You can use the hashtag #FLsecondarylearning to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

An introduction to values, beliefs and attitudes.
Understanding the unconscious bias
Looking at your own biases and reflecting upon them
Reflecting on your own values
An introduction to how people learn
Exploring a student’s view of their environment through their eyes, as well as hearing about their world views
Looking at the expectations we have of students
Building on what students know and what they should know
An introduction to the learning environment and what it consists of
Exploring misconceptions about managing a classroom and finding out what teaching is like in reality
Understanding the psychology behind primary and secondary behaviours
Introduction to aspects of communication within teaching
Learners to take part in activities that include communicating and listening
Exploring the importance of asking the right question
Share examples of good practice
How to plan effective questions for the classroom.

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Reviews summary

Supporting effective secondary learning strategies

According to learners, this course is a largely positive resource, particularly for those supporting students in secondary education. It provides practical strategies and insights into how young people learn and how to create a supportive learning environment. Many found the modules on communication, language, and literacy highly beneficial, along with the focus on understanding unconscious bias. While beginners and teaching assistants found the content highly relevant and impactful, some experienced educators felt certain sections offered a refresher rather than new groundbreaking information.

Valued by TAs and new teachers; a refresher for experienced educators.

"As a new teaching assistant, this course was invaluable for building my foundational understanding."

"For me, an experienced teacher, much of the content was a good reminder, but not entirely new."

"Parents also mentioned gaining useful insights into supporting their children’s learning journey."

Encourages personal reflection on biases and values in learning.

"The sections on unconscious bias and reflecting on my own values were particularly insightful for my professional growth."

"It made me think deeply about my approach to supporting diverse learners."

"Understanding my own biases was a crucial takeaway from this course that I hadn't expected."

Well-organized modules with clear explanations and activities.

"I appreciated the bite-sized modules; they made it easy to fit learning into my busy schedule."

"The explanations were very clear, and the activities helped solidify my understanding."

"The course content was presented in an engaging way that kept me motivated throughout."

Provides immediately applicable tools for supporting students.

"The course offered me practical tools and strategies that I could immediately apply in my classroom."

"I found the advice on managing classroom behaviours and fostering a positive environment incredibly useful."

"It was great to learn about communication techniques that truly enhance student engagement and understanding."

Forum engagement levels varied, impacting collaborative learning.

"The forum discussions were sometimes lively and helpful, but at other times, very quiet."

"I wished for more active engagement in the discussion boards to share ideas with others."

"Some weeks, the community interaction was fantastic, offering diverse perspectives."

Career center

Learners who complete Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School.

The Souls of Black Folk

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This classic book collection of essays by W. E. B. Du Bois, one of the most important and influential African American intellectuals of the 20th century. Du Bois writes about race, the African American experience, and the struggle for civil rights.

Supporting Successful Learning in Secondary School

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Supporting effective secondary learning strategies

Career center

Reading list

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