This episode is a solo episode with me, where we talk about what relationship-centered teaching is. I use a relationship-centered approach when it comes to all things teaching and learning and in my work as a course development consultant. And – I was recently asked, what exactly is relationship-centered teaching and learning? 

I felt this episode would be a great opportunity to explain what it is, to talk about what can happen when this approach isn’t used, and to share 3 key strategies that you can use in the development of your own learning experiences – be it an online course, a training program, a webinar, a workshop, and more. 

Listen in as we talk about:

• What is relationship-centered teaching and learning? I take you through my definition and the key points to remember when it comes to this approach. 
• What can happen when a relationship-centered approach isn’t used? I talk about the impact of not using a relationship-centered approach and touch on why it’s so critical to consider.
• Three key strategies. We cover my top three strategies that you can use to implement a relationship-centered approach

Connect with Tiana:

• Website: https://tianafech.com
• LinkedIn: Tiana Fech
• Instagram: @tianafech 
• Facebook: @tianafech 
• Book: Online Course Creation 101: A step-by-step guide to creating your first online course 

WHAT IS RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED TEACHING & LEARNING

“Relationship-centered teaching and learning focus on the “who” — the people involved at the heart.”

Relationship-centered teaching and learning is an approach that prioritizes the people involved in the process of education. Rather than focusing solely on the content and subject matter being taught, this approach recognizes that people are at the heart of teaching and learning. 

As a teacher who has taught various subjects to students of different ages, I have learned the importance of building strong connections with my students. By fostering relationships among teachers, learners, and content, we can create a more engaging and meaningful learning experience for everyone involved.

WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED APPROACH ISN’T USED

When a relationship-centered approach is not used in teaching and learning, it can have a negative impact on the learners. People can feel either overwhelmed or underwhelmed, as they may not have the necessary support and guidance to succeed. This can lead to disengagement, where learners lose interest and don’t care about the course or subject matter. 

In online courses, this can result in a failure to complete the program or achieve the desired outcomes. When learners do not feel valued or connected, they may struggle with confidence in their knowledge and skills, hindering their ability to succeed in future endeavors.

Without relationships as a focus, learners may struggle to connect with the content and may not be motivated to learn.

THREE KEY STRATEGIES YOU CAN USE TO IMPLEMENT A RELATIONSHIP-CENTERED APPROACH

I share with you my three key strategies to help you implement a relationship-centered approach in your own teaching and learning journey.

Firstly, when creating content, it is essential to distinguish between “need to know” and “nice to know” information. 

Secondly, in designing the learning experience, it is essential to use scaffolding, which involves breaking up the learning into chunks and providing support for each segment. Using the “I do, we do, you do” approach can help learners to engage more actively and effectively with the content.

Lastly, it is crucial to give learners time to process and reflect on the information they receive actively. This is achieved by providing opportunities for active engagement with the content, allowing learners to “breathe in” and “breathe out”. 

TIMESTAMPS

1:50 What is relationship-centered teaching and learning? 

3:00 A couple of questions for you to reflect on

4:35 What can happen when a relationship-centered approach isn’t used? 

5:15 Three key strategies you can use to implement a relationship-centered approach in the development of your learning experiences