Briefly in English

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KEHU - A PROGRAM DEVELOPING TEACHER’S HOLISTIC COMMUNICATION SKILLS IN PROFESSIONAL INTERACTION

The aim of the KEHU program was to investigate and develop an educational program intended for teachers (student teachers, competent teachers and teacher trainees). The teacher-student relationship is one key factor that contributes to the quality of teaching. The relationship between teacher immediacy and student learning has been investigated in a series of studies over the world in past decades. Taken together, this line of research has provided compelling evidence that decreased physical and/or psychological distance between teachers and students is associated with enhanced learning outcomes.

The power of nonverbal immediacy is, in part, the result of the multi-channelled nature of nonverbal communication. Nonverbal immediacy behaviours include physical distance, touching, displaying relaxed postures and movements, using gestures, smiling, using vocal variety, and engaging in eye contact during educational interactions. Whereas verbal communication generally occupies a single channel, nonverbal communication is typically multi-channelled. The multiple messages convey moods, states, and relationships simultaneously and create messages that are compelling, redundant, and seemingly authentic. That is why the main goal of the KEHU program is to support the teachers’ professional interaction by developing teachers’ nonverbal interaction skills.

The KEHU program included courses (4 – 30 hours) designed to engage participants to work actively for their own learning. The theory-based program combined theory and practise of professional interaction skills using creative and experiential methods based on theatre.

The aims of the KEHU-training courses are to:

  • to develop trainees’ awareness of the phenomena related to teacher’s professional interaction

  • to extend trainees’ ability to recognize and utilize alternative behavioural models in different educational interaction situations

  • to encourage trainees to create positive leadership and a positive learning atmosphere - despite any negative feelings associated with professional interaction

The piloting, analysis and further development of the educational entity took place during the years 2017-2021. A digital learning environment and library were created to support the project. The KEHU program was conducted in cooperation with the University of Jyväskylä, school authorities of Espoo, Vantaa and Kuopio, and the University of Zagreb, Croatia.

KEHU training courses for businesses and communities

Target group: persons and teams working with people and groups: facilitators, educators, teachers, social workers, project managers, team leaders, customer service representatives, etc.

Individuals’ success in society is associated to their communication skills and ability to function in social interactions. In working life today, it is essential to work interactively, share information and know-how, and develop ideas together. Interpersonal competence is reflected in the well-being of individuals at work and thereby in the well-being of the work community and ultimately in work productivity.

KEHU training courses offer research-based tools for the development of professional interpersonal skills and performance confidence. KEHU training courses are based on in-depth research conducted by trainers on professional interaction skills. In training, theory is put into practice and interaction phenomena are examined and practiced using functional and experiential methods. The participants' awareness of the phenomena related to professional interaction enhances, and their ability to perceive and utilize alternative behavioural models in various professional interaction situations increases.

Inquiries: Docent Tapio Toivanen, University of Helsinki, tapio.toivanen (at) helsinki.fi