Understanding our human-centred approach to education

There are old ways of doing things, there are new ways of doing things and then there are better ways of doing things. At Selmar, we believe that human-centred education is a better way forward for those who want to expand their knowledge and skillset while also growing as an individual on many levels.

As the name suggests, a human-centred education puts the individual at the centre of their own learning. After all, at the end of your course, it’s not your qualification that heads out into the workforce — it’s you, the learner.

Human-centred education focuses on developing the individual through empowerment and nurturing of personal qualities, such as empathy, independence, creativity, self-reflection, adaptability and more. In doing this, the learner is able to flourish both personally, academically and professionally through their training experience.

Our human-centred approach is delivered alongside an in-depth and up-to-date course curriculum covering practical and theoretical learning, ensuring learners have the highest quality training available.

What is human-centred education?

When seeking to understand what human-centred education is, you can break it down into four key parts. These are: the aims of the training, the character of the training process, the nature of the learning and the needs of the learners.

The aims of the training

Training should aim to impart knowledge and practical skills, while also contributing to the development of the learner as a person.

The character of the training process

The training process should be valuable beyond its end result, encouraging learners to engage with the educational process and take ownership of the experience of learning rather than simply ‘getting to the end’.

The nature of the learning

Rather than simply acquiring knowledge and skills, a human-centred education approach extends the nature of the learning to incorporate personal development and a focus on soft skills that will support learners to flourish.

The needs of the learners

At Selmar we frequently communicate with learners to ensure our training meets their needs, including adequate support, engaging content and delivery, and accessible platforms.

Providing a human-centred education approach to those studying aged care or early childhood education means marrying the essential practical skills and theoretical knowledge with interpersonal skills and human qualities. The result: a more caring and compassionate approach to the workplace.

Why we use a human-centred education approach

The success of our learners to reach their training and career goals is paramount. These goals are intrinsically linked to personal goals, which is why a human-centred approach that centres around a learner’s wants and needs is so effective.

When a learner is given the encouragement to reflect on the learning material from a human perspective and explore their learning and how they connect to it on a personal level, they are in a great space from which to grow. Human-centred education enables learners to relate to their training in a way that makes learning the necessary skills and knowledge for their course come naturally.

Practical ways we incorporate human-centred education

For Selmar learners, the human-centred approach to education is built in to all our aged care courses and early childhood education courses. Right from induction we begin collaborating with learners to build a strong relationship and set intentions for the course and beyond. You will discover new things about yourself as a learner and as a person through our human-centred education style.

Our approach also develops and reinforces soft skills alongside practical techniques. A tangible example of the human-centred education approach is our practical placement journals. The journal is a best-practice tool that provides an opportunity for the learner to gain deep insights from the practical application of their theoretical knowledge via focusing on essential soft skills. For example, self-reflection techniques within the placement journal enable them to gain a greater understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and to map how their perspectives change along their learning journey, to gain better results.

We support our team at every level with training to ensure they have the most up-to-date skills in fostering human-centred education, leading through compassion and supporting learners to get the most from their training.

Supporting the learner journey

While our human-centred education approach shifts the focus onto the learner and their individual growth and development through their studies, they’re certainly not alone in their endeavours. Our focus on learner success means that you, the learner, is at the centre of our teaching, and feel supported at every learning stage.

Our learner success team provides support from the very beginning of your course right through to your successful completion of it. And even beyond that for your future training goals! It’s important for us to be there for our learners in the way that best suits their needs, commitments and preferences. That’s why our support is available via phone, email, text message, video call and face-to-face.

To enhance your experience of achieving your qualifications and career goals, Selmar can provide you with the highest standard of education that centres around you and your individual learning journey. Get in touch to learn more.