Kelsey reminded us of the importance of creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment where every student feels welcomed, supported, and encouraged to express their thoughts, values, experiences, and perspectives. In her teaching, Kelsey collaboratively fosters this together with her students. For example, Kelsey framed the activity early in the semester, where students were asked to brainstorm ways to:
- create an inclusive, safe, and supportive learning community in the classroom
- develop class participation agreements
In the co-creation process, Kelsey divided her students into small groups of 3 or 4 to work collaboratively. Together, they created their own classroom agreements and identified the factors that can help them participate fully in the class and their expectations from other students. After completing the list, the groups came together to discuss and reach a consensus through a process of sharing their ideas, clarifying the desirable behaviors and providing examples.
Once the agreed-upon lists were finalized, they were displayed for everyone to refer to throughout the semester. The groups also discussed the terms and conditions of the agreements and ways to handle class members who violate the established rules. These class agreements, upon which each class member is responsible for adhering, serve as a useful tool for conflict resolution in case of any disputes.
Kelsey highlighted several advantages of the classroom agreements activity. Firstly, it provides an opportunity for students to get to know each other and collaborate early on, which helps create a comfortable learning environment. Secondly, it demonstrates to students that instructors care about their learning and well-being. The agreements serve as guard rails for the course, promoting fairness and establishing social norms. Additionally, involving students in creating these agreements gives them a sense of ownership over their learning environment, which can increase engagement and motivation. Finally, Kelsey emphasized that the agreement document should not be fixed but adaptable throughout the course to reflect changes and feedback. Overall, this activity helps bookend the semester, reminding students of what they have developed together to foster a positive learning community.