Fall Teaching Conference Workshop - Navigating Challenging Moments in the Classroom

Ashlie Sandoval-Lee, Assistant Director, Equity and Inclusion, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning

Challenging moments can emerge even in the best-designed courses. Instructors and students might be tasked with engaging with materials or comments that conflict with their worldview; they may encounter or perpetuate microaggressions in the classroom; or they may become activated by course content. When classroom discussions and activities result in unforeseeable, unintended, or unwanted outcomes, those moments can be stressful for instructors. How can you stay present and successfully facilitate conversations when conflict, difficult emotions, or trauma are present? In this session, we will learn and practice a mindful listening strategy and explore best practices to help you and your students acknowledge feelings as they arise. Our goal is to help instructors learn to reframe challenging moments as opportunities to foster community and confidence, and to make sure that they do not become a barrier to learning goals.

This session is part of the Fall Teaching Conference, which is designed to prepare new and experienced graduate student teachers for their roles as Teaching Fellows in the FAS. Pre-registration is required. Learn more here.