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Connecting with Students: Sustainable Connection for Engagement and Meaningful Learning

Cool+PrimarySecondarySocialLeadershipSocial and Emotional Learning

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Course Summary

Video transcript

We’ve been told that connection is important, but too often, it’s treated like a soft skill. Something extra. Something optional.

The truth? Connection is the condition for learning.

When students feel safe, seen, and valued, they don’t just behave better – they learn better. They show up, they take risks, they grow.

Hi I’m Matt Pitman and I’ve teamed up with Cool+ for this course about making that connection sustainable. Not a one-off moment of kindness – but an everyday practice embedded in how we teach, lead, and build culture.

Grounded in The Connection Curriculum, each short lesson gives you a powerful concept and clear strategy – plus a reflection or activity to take straight into your classroom.

Whether you’re a teacher, leader, or support staff member – if you work with young people, this is for you.

Let’s stop treating connection as an extra and start making it everything.

You will learn:

Course time:

Accreditation:

Course Content

Connecting with Students: Sustainable Connection for Engagement and Meaningful learning

Connecting with Students: Sustainable Connection for Engagement and Meaningful learning

01.

Intro

02.

Why connection matters

03.

Building strong relationships

04.

Creating a sense of belonging

05.

Helping students find meaning in learning

06.

Identity and connection

07.

Purpose and student engagement

08.

Encouraging empathic curiosity

09.

The role of student voice in connection

10.

Connection as a whole-school practice

11.

Sustaining connection

12.

Reflection

13.

Congratulations

Course Writers

Instructor 1

Matt Pitman is an experienced educational leader, a doctoral candidate researching connections across school communities, and the author of The Connection Curriculum published by Amba Press. Matt’s experience is varied, from the leadership of curriculum teams and programs to student wellbeing, student improvement and community engagement portfolios. He has led Positive Education and student support programs and has a passion for working with students, parents, and staff to develop new understandings of the needs of young people in the 21st century.

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