Balancing Act: Trauma-Informed Teaching While Avoiding the "Coddling" of Learners

Prompted by avid Fika fan Dr. Judith Deluca from Binghamton University (SUNY), the Fika Crew explores two concepts that have been widely discussed in higher education over the past few years but rarely together!  There is a tension between coddling young adults and employing trauma-informed teaching strategies. Jeff, Kristin, Tina, and Stuart discuss whether protecting students too much hinders their ability to cope with adversity. They consider whether increased accommodation is beneficial or detrimental to student development and independence, particularly at a time when more students come to college with adverse life experiences.

Fika Beverage Snack Sharing: 0:00 - 3:49

Discussion about coddling learners and trauma-informed teaching:  3:50

Resources

Lukianoff G and Haidt J. The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas are Setting Up a Generation for Failure. New York: Penguin Press, 2018.

McClinton A, Laurencin CT.  Just in TIME: Trauma-Informed Medical Education.  J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2020; 7(6): 1046-1052.

Arbour M, Walker K, Houston J.  Trauma-informed pedagogy: instructional strategies to support student success.  J Midwifery Womens Health 2024; 69(1): 25-32.

Kaurman SB.  How to stop being a victim of your past.  Victimization comes from the outside.  Victimhood comes from within.  Psychology Today, March 2025.

Rose F.  Safe spaces on college campuses are creating intolerant students.  Huffpost, May 30, 2017; updated June 12, 2017.

Nelson A, Eliasz KL.  Desirable difficulty: Theory and application of intentionally challenging learning.  Med Educ 2023; 57(2): 123-130.

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The Pharmacy Fika podcast is a positive and compassionate “place” (a virtual community) where pharmacy and other health professions educators gather to discuss teaching, learning, scholarship, and academic life… plus the snacks that support their best work. So grab your favorite beverage and listen to the Pharmacy Fika podcast with your colleagues.

The Co-Hosts are:

• Stuart T. Haines (Executive Producer), University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy – sthaines@olemiss.edu               
• Tina Brock, University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences - tina.brock@unimelb.edu.au
• Jeff Cain, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy - jeff.cain@uky.edu 
• Kristin Janke, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy - janke006@umn.edu

Disclaimer (inspired by Whad’Ya Know?): All opinions expressed on the Pharmacy Fika podcast are well-reasoned and insightful. Needless to say, they are ours and our guests alone, and not those of our employing institutions.

Even though we don’t accept advertising and don’t have any sponsors, we seem to mention Trader Joe’s snacks and various water-based drinks a LOT.

Not sure what fika is all about?  Watch this brief video:  How a Swedish coffee break can boost your wellbeing and performance.

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