In today’s world, professionals working with individuals facing intellectual disabilities often encounter challenging situations involving aggression. Addressing these situations with the right strategies is critical to fostering safe, supportive environments for both educators and those they work with. The COPE with Aggression project aims to equip educators and care professionals with the tools and knowledge necessary to handle aggressive behaviors effectively, providing essential training through an innovative online platform.
About the Project
The COPE with Aggression project is a transnational initiative focused on empowering educators, caregivers, and social workers who deal with individuals facing intellectual disabilities. The project offers a comprehensive online course, delivered through a SPOOC (Self-Paced Open Online Course), consisting of seven key modules covering topics such as:
- Understanding aggression
- Communication strategies
- Body language
- Conflict management
- Social and emotional skills
- Building resilience (Part I and II)
These modules combine theory with interactive activities, providing participants with practical tools and self-assessment exercises to apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings.
Training Across Borders: A Look at National Results
The COPE with Aggression project was rolled out across several countries, including Italy, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Spain, and Greece, with hundreds of professionals participating in the training. Each country conducted a national report to evaluate the impact of the course, collecting feedback from participants to refine and enhance the program. Here are some of the key findings:
- Italy: The Italian participants expressed high levels of satisfaction with the platform, rating it an average of 4.6 out of 5. Participants appreciated the structured modules, particularly the content on resilience and conflict management. Many suggested more in-depth content on topics such as healthcare and digitalization, but overall, the course was considered both comprehensive and practical for their work.
- Lithuania: Lithuanian participants rated their e-learning experience very positively, with an average score of 4.8 out of 5. While the majority of participants felt that the course exceeded their expectations, they suggested including more hands-on exercises in the Lithuanian language. Emotional resilience and stress management were among the most valued topics, emphasizing the course's practical application in their daily work.
- Bulgaria: In Bulgaria, the course was highly appreciated for its flexibility and balance between theoretical and practical content. Most participants (83.9%) rated the platform as easy to navigate, and the modules on resilience-building were seen as particularly important for social workers. However, many recommended that the length of the materials be adjusted to fit the busy schedules of professionals in the social care sector.
- Spain: Spanish participants also reported a high level of satisfaction with the course. The clarity of content and the use of interactive activities and videos were highlighted as strengths, but some noted that parts of the material were only available in English, which limited accessibility for non-English speakers. Participants suggested additional topics such as emotional management and legal aspects related to aggression.
- Greece: In Greece, the course was well-received, with participants rating the overall content quality at 4.8 out of 5. Psychologists, caregivers, and other professionals found the interactive activities and videos particularly useful. However, they expressed a desire for more content on domestic violence and additional techniques for handling aggression. The course was recognized as a practical and engaging learning experience, providing participants with valuable skills to incorporate into their professional lives.
What’s Next?
The feedback from the national reports highlights the course's success in providing essential training for professionals working in high-pressure environments. Participants across countries praised the flexibility and quality of the course while also pointing out areas for improvement, such as content depth and language accessibility. Based on this feedback, the COPE with Aggression team is exploring ways to enhance the course, including translating more materials into local languages and expanding content on specific topics like emotional resilience and conflict management.
The COPE with Aggression project demonstrates how online learning can bridge gaps in professional training, offering accessible and flexible education that addresses real-world challenges. By continuing to adapt and improve the course based on participant feedback, the project is set to have a lasting impact on educators and care professionals across Europe.