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Dealing with challenging moments in the classroom

Watch these instructional videos to learn more about navigating challenging moments in the classroom. In the format of micro-lectures, these videos provide brief and focused insights and strategies in less than 7 minutes. 

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What you’ll find here

Videos will be uploaded throughout the semester onto this page. These videos will focus on select topics and techniques for instructors to use in their teaching practice.

Introduction

Feel more equipped to handle unexpected situations. Viewers will learn practical techniques to enhance classroom management skills and address common scenarios such as disruptive behaviour and teaching difficult content. 

By engaging with this series, instructors will learn to: 

  • Identify common challenging moments that may arise in the classroom. 
  • Develop effective responses to address these situations with confidence and empathy.
  • Reflect on individual teaching approaches

Explore these micro-lectures to improve your skills and transform challenging moments into opportunities for growth in your teaching practice.

Watch

Essential frameworks

Viewers will learn foundational theories for challenging moments in the classroom, such as Warren (2006) and Singh Vaid (2021). These frameworks are designed to help learners: 

  • Recognize specific types of challenging moments.
  • Understand underlying causes and dynamics that contribute to these moments.
  • Distinguish between different types of classroom safety.

Incorporate these frameworks into your teaching practice to deepen your understanding of classroom dynamics and student behaviour. Use these micro-lectures as a a solid foundation for developing effective responses. 

Singh Vaid, B. (2021). What do we mean when we talk about “safe space”? A philosophical exploration of a contentious metaphor in educationDoctoral thesis, Simon Fraser University.

Warren, L. (2006). Managing hot moments in the classroom. Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning at Harvard University. Retrieved from: https://eloncdn.blob.core.windows.net/eu3/sites/126/2017/04/Managing-Hot-Moments-in-the-Classroom-Harvard_University.pdf

Instructional videos

Defining Heated, Offensive, and Hot (H-O-T) Moments

Categories of H-O-T Moments

Intellectual, Emotional, and Physical Safety - Part 1

Additional help

For additional support regarding challenging moments that have happened in your classroom, email teaching@concordia.ca. We can provide expertise around specific questions or situations related to pedagogy and classroom management.

Equity Office

If you believe that you may need support regarding challenging moments that are related to questions of discrimination, or other serious equity-related offences you may want to contact the Equity Office at Concordia by emailing equity@concordia.ca

Office of Rights and Responsibilities 

If you believe that you may need support regarding challenging moments that are related to questions of harassment, or other breaches of university policies, you may want to contact the Office of Rights and Responsibilities at Concordia by emailing rights@concordia.ca

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