Teaching Guidelines
Everyone is encouraged to share the Human First Lens website as a complete learning tool. Teachers, facilitators, organizations and others can also incorporate the Human First Lens into their own classes and learning environments using the following recommended guidelines.
Teaching Guidelines
If you haven’t already, check your baseline knowledge of the materials by completing the Human First Lens Knowledge Check In.
Trauma-Informed, Empowerment Based Approach
The Human First Lens is best taught by adhering to the principles of Trauma-Informed, Empowerment-Based Approaches:
- We recognize all people can and do experience trauma, and can be susceptible to experiencing and continuing the cycle of oppression when they don’t have the information or tools they need to overcome it.
- We recognize that each person has the ability to heal, learn and grow.
- We recognize that most people do not want to be bias or prejudice towards others, or themselves.
- We seek to build upon people’s strengths and build people up, rather than tear people down.
- We recognize that oppression and isms are able to be interrupted and eradicated.
Promote a Safe Space
Create a safe space for learning by promoting basic dignity, worth and respect for all students. Encourage learners to ask questions and to do so in a way that maintains dignity, worth and respect for themselves and others. Foster a sense of caring and community problem-solving that aims to ensure all people can truly thrive.
Inclusive Learning Spaces
Fully inclusive and integrated learning spaces ensure that all people are receiving the same information, while increasing exposure to human diversity. In addition, all students are also teachers; Allowing for people to share their personal and lived experiences (if they choose) can help others learn, too. If appropriate, encourage students to use what they’ve learned to engage in problem-solving.
Focus on the Outcomes
The Human First Lens is designed to empower learners to reach their own unique highest and fullest potential – and to truly thrive – by:
- Ensuring they fully understand their own human rights, their basic human needs, and the basics of healthy human relationships;
- Knowing how to identify, reject and overcome the cycle of oppression;
- Knowing how to utilize the Human First Lens and the Spectrum-Based View of Humanity to interrupt and eradicate isms, celebrate human diversity, and ensure accessibility and inclusion for all people without exception.
Ensure You’re Healed
Facilitators should ensure they have themselves healed from any trauma or oppression that could result in lingering assumptions, predictions, bias or prejudice against their students. If you find you’ve developed a bias or prejudice, you can review the relevant topics in the Human First Lens, or seek professional guidance and advice. You deserve to be healed and thriving, too.
Use of Materials
All People Thriving incurs a cost to maintain our technology and online tools. If you plan to incorporate all or parts of the Human First Lens tools into your teaching, please support our efforts by becoming a sponsor here .
