Resilience - The art of coping with disasters from edX

What is Resilience? Resilience is often perceived as an abstract term that varies in meaning for people from different fields and backgrounds. Nevertheless, it has been a “buzzword” in the discussion around crises and disasters in recent decades.

In this course, we willintroduce structure into this confusion andprovide clearer definitions for the intangible multidisciplinary and sometimes ambiguous term resilience.

Subsequently, this understanding will serve to improve the learners’ ability to manage crisis situations, as well as to help them plan and focus interventions and protective measures in the field of emergency preparedness and response.

At the individual level, this course will provide learners with personal tools and resources for better coping in various stressful situations.

Resilience is a capacity of society, with implications for day-to-day life as well as in crisis situations. The familiarity with the concept and its' broad aspects, is an asset to any individual in the pragmatic applied sense, beyond the academic attainment.

This course willintroduce the concept of resilience and its relevance in various arenas and times.

We will portray the impact of the disaster on individuals, families, communities, organizations, infrastructure and the interfaces between them.

We will introduce the role of media and social media in the emergency management lifecycle

You will learn how to measure resilience, how to use this assessment to guide you in building response plans for emergency situations.

What you'll learn

What is resilience
What is the role of resilience in disaster situations
How can one improve resilience
Introduction to Coping
The BASIC PH model of coping
Continuities
Grief and bereavement
The effects of emergencies and disasters on individuals
Who is vulnerable - at-risk populations
Helping the helpers
Factors of Community Resilience
The role of media during disasters
Effective media communication during emergencies
CERTs - Community Emergency Response Teams

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1 - Resilience: Introduction and overview of the concept:

A fresh view on resilience in disasters

The scope of disasters and basic terminology

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Taught by researchers recognized for their study of resilience in disasters, crises, and emergencies

Develops an understanding of resilience that can build response plans for emergency situations

Presents strategies for improving resilience on individual, community, and organizational levels

Incorporates insights on media and social media's role in disaster management

Explores coping mechanisms and support systems for healthcare providers in emergency situations

May require additional materials that are not readily available

Reviews summary

Holistic resilience & disaster preparedness

According to students, this course offers a comprehensive exploration of resilience, moving beyond abstract definitions to provide practical tools and frameworks for coping with disasters. Learners find it particularly valuable for understanding resilience across individual, family, community, and organizational levels. The inclusion of the BASIC PH model of coping and insights into effective media communication during emergencies are noted as significant strengths. It's perceived as beneficial for both personal development and for professionals seeking to enhance skills in emergency preparedness and response, offering a holistic perspective on managing crisis situations.

Presents complex concepts in an organized, digestible manner.

"The weekly modules made it easy to follow complex topics like grief and media's role in disasters."

"The syllabus outlines exactly what you'll learn, and the content delivers on those promises."

"I found the explanations clear and concise, making it easy to grasp even abstract concepts."

Highly relevant for diverse learners seeking practical skills.

"As a professional in emergency response, this course helped me refine my understanding of community resilience."

"I'm not in a crisis management field, but the personal coping strategies were incredibly valuable for my life."

"This course bridges the gap, offering insights useful for both personal growth and professional application."

Provides actionable frameworks like the BASIC PH model.

"The BASIC PH model was a highlight; it's a very practical framework for understanding and improving coping."

"I found the tools for personal resilience and coping very useful and applicable to everyday stress."

"Learning how to measure resilience and guide response plans was incredibly insightful for my work."

Covers resilience from individual to organizational levels.

"I appreciate how the course covers resilience from personal coping mechanisms all the way to community-wide strategies."

"This course offers a fantastic overview, connecting individual well-being with broader societal responses to crises."

"It was great to learn about resilience not just for myself, but also for families, communities, and organizations."

Broad coverage means some topics might benefit from more depth.

"While comprehensive, I sometimes wished for more in-depth case studies or advanced practical exercises."

"The course provides a strong introduction, but further study is definitely needed for specialized areas."

"I felt some topics, like organizational adaptation, could have been expanded with more real-world scenarios."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Resilience - The art of coping with disasters with these activities:

Review basic concepts of resilience

Show steps

Reviewing the basic concepts of resilience will help you better understand the material covered in this course.

Browse courses on Resilience

Show steps

Read through the course syllabus and make note of the key concepts related to resilience.
Review your notes from previous courses or textbooks on resilience.
Take practice quizzes or complete online exercises to test your understanding of the basic concepts.

Read "The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped Us (and What We Can Do About Them)" by Lucy Jones

Show steps

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of natural disasters and how they have impacted human societies.

View The Big Ones: How Natural Disasters Have Shaped... on Amazon

Show steps

Purchase or borrow a copy of the book.
Read the book and take notes.
Write a summary of the book.

Join a local disaster preparedness group

Show steps

Joining a local disaster preparedness group will help you to connect with other people who are interested in helping their community.

Browse courses on Disaster Preparedness

Show steps

Research local disaster preparedness groups in your area.
Attend a meeting of a group that you are interested in joining.
Get involved in the group's activities.

Five other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all eight activities

Develop a personal crisis response plan

Show steps

Developing a personal crisis response plan will help you to be better prepared to cope with emergencies and disasters.

Show steps

Identify the potential risks and hazards in your area.
Develop a plan for how you will respond to each type of emergency.
Practice your plan with your family and friends.

Attend a workshop on emergency preparedness

Show steps

Attending a workshop on emergency preparedness will help you to learn about the latest best practices for preparing for and responding to emergencies.

Browse courses on Disaster Preparedness

Show steps

Research workshops on emergency preparedness in your area.
Register for a workshop that you are interested in attending.
Attend the workshop and take notes.

Create a community resilience toolkit

Show steps

Creating a community resilience toolkit will help you to better understand the needs of your community and how to help them prepare for and respond to emergencies.

Browse courses on Community Resilience

Show steps

Identify the resources available in your community.
Develop a plan for how to distribute resources in the event of an emergency.
Create a communication plan to keep the community informed during an emergency.
Train community members on how to use the toolkit.

Follow a course on disaster psychology

Show steps

Following a course on disaster psychology will help you to understand the psychological effects of disasters and how to provide support to those who have been affected.

Browse courses on Crisis Management

Show steps

Research online courses on disaster psychology.
Enroll in a course that you are interested in taking.
Complete the course and take notes.

Contribute to an open-source disaster relief project

Show steps

Contributing to an open-source disaster relief project will help you to make a real difference in the lives of those affected by disasters.

Browse courses on Disaster Relief

Show steps

Research open-source disaster relief projects.
Identify a project that you are interested in contributing to.
Contact the project maintainers and let them know that you are interested in contributing.
Complete the project's onboarding process.
Start contributing to the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Resilience - The art of coping with disasters will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Emergency Management Director

Emergency Management Directors are responsible for planning and coordinating emergency response efforts within their jurisdictions. They may be tasked with developing evacuation plans, training emergency responders, and conducting drills to ensure that the community is prepared for a variety of potential threats. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Emergency Management Directors by providing them with a better understanding of how individuals and communities respond to disasters. This can help them develop more effective emergency response plans and policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Emergency Management Director

Disaster Relief Specialist

Disaster Relief Specialists are often brought in to help support individuals and communities in the immediate aftermath of a devastating event. They may be tasked with distributing aid, providing shelter, or offering counseling services to those affected by a crisis. The topics covered in Resilience - The art of coping with disasters can be helpful to Disaster Relief Specialists by providing background information and case studies of how communities and individuals have reacted to disasters in the past. This can help them develop best practices and standard operating procedures for different types of disasters and emergencies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Disaster Relief Specialist

Disaster Preparedness Coordinator

Disaster Preparedness Coordinators develop and implement plans to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters. They may work with local governments, businesses, and community groups to develop emergency response plans, conduct drills, and train volunteers. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Disaster Preparedness Coordinators by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them develop more effective emergency response plans and policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Disaster Preparedness Coordinator

Social Worker

Social Workers provide counseling and support to individuals and families who are struggling with a variety of challenges, including those caused by disasters. They may work in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, and community centers. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Social Workers by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective counseling and support to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Urban Planner

Urban Planners design and develop communities, and they may specialize in designing communities that are resilient to disasters. They may work with local governments to develop land use plans, zoning regulations, and building codes that promote disaster resilience. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Urban Planners by providing them with a better understanding of the physical and social factors that contribute to disaster resilience. This can help them design communities that are better prepared to withstand and recover from disasters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Urban Planner

Public Health Nurse

Public Health Nurses work to promote the health of communities, and they may specialize in disaster preparedness and response. They may work with local health departments to develop emergency response plans, train volunteers, and provide health care to people who have been affected by disasters. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Public Health Nurses by providing them with a better understanding of the health effects of disasters. This can help them develop more effective emergency response plans and policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Health Nurse

Community Organizer

Community Organizers work to build and empower communities, and they may specialize in disaster preparedness and response. They may work with community groups to develop emergency response plans, train volunteers, and provide support to people who have been affected by disasters. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Community Organizers by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them develop more effective emergency response plans and policies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Community Organizer

Psychologist

Psychologists study the mind and behavior, and they may specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. They may provide therapy to help people cope with the psychological effects of disasters, and they may also conduct research on the psychological impact of disasters. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Psychologists by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them develop more effective therapies and interventions for their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Physician

Physicians provide medical care to people who are sick or injured. They may be called upon to respond to disasters, and they may be tasked with providing medical care to victims and survivors. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Physicians by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective support to victims and survivors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician

Law Enforcement Officer

Law Enforcement Officers are responsible for protecting the public and enforcing the law. They may be called upon to respond to disasters, and they may be tasked with protecting people and property, directing traffic, and enforcing curfews. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Law Enforcement Officers by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective support to victims and survivors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Law Enforcement Officer

Firefighter

Firefighters protect the public and property from fires and other emergencies. They may be called upon to respond to disasters, and they may be tasked with fighting fires, rescuing people, and providing medical assistance. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Firefighters by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective support to victims and survivors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Firefighter

Paramedic

Paramedics provide emergency medical care to people who are sick or injured. They may be called upon to respond to disasters, and they may be tasked with providing medical care to victims and survivors. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Paramedics by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective support to victims and survivors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paramedic

Journalist

Journalists report on current events, and they may specialize in covering disasters. They may write articles, produce documentaries, or give speeches about the impact of disasters on individuals, communities, and societies. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Journalists by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them produce more accurate and informative reporting on disasters.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Registered Nurse

Registered Nurses provide nursing care to people who are sick or injured. They may be called upon to respond to disasters, and they may be tasked with providing nursing care to victims and survivors. The Resilience - The art of coping with disasters course can be helpful to Registered Nurses by providing them with a better understanding of the psychological and emotional effects of disasters. This can help them provide more effective support to victims and survivors.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse