Humanist Theory

You run a humanist learning environment, right? Of course, you do. You focus on individual needs, and you believe everyone has the power to grow and learn. You value emotions and personal experience, and your teaching reflects them.

Okay, so maybe it’s not articulated to that degree. If you make your students the focus, then you’re enacting humanist theories.

If you teach older students, you make them accept responsibility for their own learning through open-ended enquiries, projects, and investigations.

Humanist theory thrives on collaboration. Although some students work well in groups, others don’t. They can still be part of the humanist journey. As long as you focus on their needs, emotions and learning styles, you’re on the path with them.

Encourage emotional content. Provide your students with a safe environment. Foster a culture of respect and support.

Shift the ‘fight, flight or freeze’ response to one of understanding and calm. Reducing stress, anxiety, and bullying gives rise to better learning outcomes. Yes, all good in theory. Take small steps. Have your students set their own goals. Value them, display them. Actively track with them how they are progressing toward them.

Adjust the outcomes if they are too challenging for some or not challenging for others.