Workshop Topic Detail
Relationships Matter
Description
Have you ever wished that teaching could be more fun and more effective more often? We believe it can! The first step in this process is building a relationship with each student. Clinical Psychology offers a unique perspective on this. The same skill sets that facilitate relationship building and healing in the consulting room are transferable to the classroom.
By the end of this workshop, participants know or be able to:
- Translate the relationship building skills used by clinical psychologists into effective classroom management tools.
- Adopt an engaging presence and bring optimism, warmth, and enthusiasm into the classroom.
- Incorporate principles of rapport building and bonding into their teaching.
- Use active placebo effects to increase student learning. Use principles of behavior modification to build structures that support risk taking. Apply the above competencies in face-to-face and virtual classroom settings.
Plans for Audience Participation and Interaction:
This workshop explores best practices for relationship building through lectures, story sharing, PowerPoint presentations, videos, small group activities, and full group discussions.
Facilitator(s)
Juan R. Abascal, a graduate of Rutgers University and Kent State University, is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Miami Dade College. He was awarded an Endowed Teaching Chair and has received NISOD’s Excellence Award. Dr. Abascal was also honored with the Service Learning Professor of the Year Award. As a graduate of the Salzburg International Education Institute, Dr. Abascal has been involved in the Global Education Initiative, as well as the Earth Ethics Institute. He has served as a Department Chairperson, Associate Dean, Academic Dean, and Associate Provost for Academic Affairs. Dr. Abascal and Dr. Brucato have conducted numerous seminars on effective teaching, personal effectiveness, and stress mastery. They have co-authored two books: Essential Elements for Effectiveness – Optimal Functioning Through Positive Psychology and Stress Mastery – The Art of Coping Gracefully. He is a co-founder of MindWorks International, Inc., a creative performance consulting firm focused on optimal functioning, effective teaching, and transformational leadership in institutions of higher learning.
Dominic Brucato, a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Kent State University, is a Clinical Psychologist and Retired Professor of Psychology at Miami Dade College. He was the recipient of an Endowed Teaching Chair and the Service Learning Professor of the Year Award. He also served as a Core Council Member of the Earth Ethics Institute and was involved with the Global Education Initiative. Dr. Brucato and Dr. Abascal have conducted numerous seminars on effective teaching, personal effectiveness, and stress mastery. They have co-authored two books: Essential Elements for Effectiveness – Optimal Functioning Through Positive Psychology and Stress Mastery – The Art of Coping Gracefully. Dr. Brucato co-founded MindWorks International, Inc., a creative performance consulting firm focused on optimal functioning, effective teaching, and transformational leadership in institutions of higher learning.