Half Title Page
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING TEACHING IN SENSITIVE SUBJECT AND TOPIC AREAS
Title Page
DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING TEACHING IN SENSITIVE SUBJECT AND TOPIC AREAS
A Comprehensive Guide for Professionals in FE and HE Settings
EDITED BY
WILLIAM McGOVERN
Northumbria University, UK
AIDAN GILLESPIE
Leeds Trinity University, UK
TOBY BRANDON
Northumbria University, UK
AND
ALISON MCINNES
Northumbria University, UK
United Kingdom – North America – Japan – India – Malaysia – China
Copyright Page
Emerald Publishing Limited
Emerald Publishing, Floor 5, Northspring, 21-23 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.
First edition 2024
Editorial matter and selection © 2024 William McGovern, Aidan Gillespie, Toby Brandon, and Alison McInnes.
Individual chapters © 2024 The authors.
Published under exclusive licence by Emerald Publishing Limited.
Reprints and permissions service
Contact: www.copyright.com
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying issued in the UK by The Copyright Licensing Agency and in the USA by The Copyright Clearance Center. Any opinions expressed in the chapters are those of the authors. Whilst Emerald makes every effort to ensure the quality and accuracy of its content, Emerald makes no representation implied or otherwise, as to the chapters’ suitability and application and disclaims any warranties, express or implied, to their use.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-1-83753-127-1 (Print)
ISBN: 978-1-83753-126-4 (Online)
ISBN: 978-1-83753-128-8 (Epub)
Dedication Page
In loving memory of Kay Brown and Jo Cunningham, two inspirational Social Workers who sensitively championed Social Justice.
Alison
Contents
| Foreword | ix | |
| 1 | Key Concept and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Subjects and Topics | |
| David Nichol, Dr William McGovern and Dr Ruth McGovern | 1 | |
| 2 | Cultural Sensitivity in the Social Work Curriculum | |
| Dr Alison McInnes and Professor Janet Walker | 13 | |
| 3 | Teaching the Impacts of Colonialism to UK Higher Education Students | |
| Dr Andie Reynolds | 29 | |
| 4 | Exploring and Engaging with Faith and Religion in University Settings | |
| Dr Aidan Gillespie | 41 | |
| 5 | Female, Muslim and British: A Personal Reflection on the Experiences of Holding Multiple Identities | |
| Rahida Mohammed | 51 | |
| 6 | Teaching About Homelessness – Embodied Learning, Recognising Prior Learning and Experience, and the Key Role of Empathy | |
| Dr Adele Irving, Dr Jamie Harding and Dr Oliver Moss | 59 | |
| 7 | Educating the Educator – Teaching Around Care Experience | |
| Dr Hayley Alderson and Carrie Harrop | 71 | |
| 8 | Teaching About Perceptions of Care and Young Caring | |
| Deborah Smart, Lucy Jane Henshall and Libby Oldham | 83 | |
| 9 | ‘Teachers Need to Understand the Position That They Have’: Discussing Poverty in Diverse Classes | |
| Pamela Louise Graham, Nicole Fisher, Connie Dalton and Richard Lee | 93 | |
| 10 | Accredited Research Education with People with Lived Experience of Mental Health Distress | |
| Chris Gibbs, Dr Toby Brandon, Dr Christina Cooper and Dr Mick Hill | 105 | |
| 11 | ‘Don't Just Say No’: Managing Learning Around Substance Use in a Demographically Diverse HE Institution | |
| Craig Ancrum | 115 | |
| 12 | Using Lived Experience to Teach Trauma: Containment and Attunement for Yourself and Your Students | |
| Kevin Ward | 127 | |
| 13 | Teaching and Representing the Needs of Those Who Experience Exploitation and Serious Violence | |
| Lydia Lochhead | 135 | |
| 14 | Moving Beyond Surviving to Support the Ability to Thrive: Sharing the Experiences of Young People Whose Parents Use Substances | |
| Dr Cassey Muir | 143 | |
| 15 | Sharing Life Stories About Recovery from Substance Use in Higher Education Settings | |
| Rachel Wease, Trevor Croft, Dr William McGovern and Dr Ruth McGovern | 151 | |
| About the Editors | 159 | |
| About the Contributors | 161 | |
Foreword
The very nature of sensitive issues makes them challenging and anxiety provoking for academic staff to deliver. Few of us feel equipped to wrangle with the thorniest topics in public health, but doing so in a classroom can be even more confronting. We want to translate complex issues into accessible material for an increasingly diverse range of students, without losing the essence of the challenging human experiences those issues contain. ‘Key Concepts and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Subjects and Topics’ supports this journey by providing chapters exploring a wide range of commonly relevant themes.
A wide-ranging body of experienced authors bring their expertise to subjects like culture, colonialism, and faith. They acknowledge the complex experiences of substance use, poverty, homelessness, caring, and trauma with empathy and sensitivity. By exploring varied roles and identities through lived experience accounts, the text gives an active voice to populations that are often silenced. In addition to learning about the needs of the ‘other’ the authors challenge the reader to understand their own positionality, recognising the power inherent in being an educator.
This text has real-world applications for educators from a wide range of disciplines, delivering teaching for students at all levels. As society hardens its attitudes to some of the most disenfranchised people, facing the most challenging lives, it becomes increasingly important that we counter this by creating empathy and understanding in professional communities. ‘Key Concepts and Concerns of Teaching Sensitive Subjects and Topics’ encourages and supports us to create meaningful spaces to explore issues safely, developing the necessary empathy to meet needs and allow all members of society to flourish and thrive.
Dr Claire Hart
Assistant Professor of Occupational Therapy
University of Northumbria at Newcastle
