H-370
The Promotion of Social Development in Students and a Sense of Community in Classrooms
(Formerly titled The Promotion of Social Development in Students: The Prevention of Disability and Distrust in Schools)
Robert L. Selman
The aims of this course are to understand the kinds of knowledge, values, and competencies children and adolescents need to develop to relate with care and respect to peers and adults in a diverse and changing social world; to understand how social competencies and informed civic engagement can be promoted in students, grades PreK to high school; and to understand how schools and classrooms can be designed to prevent classroom and school climates that breed disrespect and cynicism, lead to dysfunction within individuals, and incite disorder within schools. In this course we will identify, examine, and explore ways to promote in students six core developing psychosocial competencies: identity formation (individual, ethnic, and cultural); social problem-solving and conflict resolution skills; perspective coordination capacities; friendship, peer, and intergroup relationship skills; societal awareness; and informed civic engagement. The focus of this course is on the alignment--or misalignment--of the attempt to promote these psychosocial competencies with the quality of school climates, organizational structures, discipline practices, and educational policies.
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