Preparing Ourselves for Challenging Times
Locally, nationally, and globally, we are living in uncertain times. How do we determine the role our classes should play in addressing or acknowledging challenging events? The college classroom can be a productive space for disciplined inquiry into complex topics, giving students valuable opportunities to hone their critical thinking and explore perspective-taking. The classroom can also be a productive space for applying theoretical understandings to real-world issues that students care about deeply. Whatever our intentions, the outcomes of our teaching approaches depend on how we prepare (or don’t prepare) for contentious times.
In this facilitated discussion, we will explore:
- How we make the decision to acknowledge and/or introduce controversial topics in our classes.
- How we approach the facilitation of challenging discussions.
- How we take care of ourselves and our students during and after challenging discussions.
Come with an open mind and an interest in hearing how your colleagues navigate these difficult times in the classroom.