In an era marked by polarization, educators were tasked with a pivotal challenge: facilitating classroom conversations where students could freely express diverse opinions, foster empathy, and enhance critical thinking.
On Thursday, October 17, Adam Smith hosted a dynamic webinar in which three distinguished panelists shared their insights on fostering productive classroom conversations around challenging topics.
Adam Smith
Host, Nationally Recognized Higher Education Expert
Timothy Berry, EdD
Professor of Educational Leadership, Minnesota State University, Mankato
Teresa A. Nance, PhD
Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion & Chief Diversity Officer, Villanova University
Zack Ritter, PhD
Lecturer , UCLA and Cal State Dominguez Hills
Unlocking the Secrets to Civil Discourse in Classroom Conversations
ogether, these leaders broke down the barriers to productive conversations in the classroom and provided participants with practical tools to navigate tricky discussions with confidence and clarity. Attendees walked away from the session with key strategies that not only transformed how they managed classroom discussions but also empowered their students to think critically and engage meaningfully.
By fostering an environment where questions were encouraged, using skilled moderation to turn heated debates into learning moments, teaching students to find credible sources, and addressing cognitive biases, educators were able to effectively guide their students through even the most challenging topics.
Why Dialogue Matters Now More Than Ever
As we approach the 2024 U.S. presidential election, campuses across the nation are becoming hotbeds of civic discourse. The stakes for maintaining constructive dialogue have never been higher. How faculty handle these classroom conversations will be a key sign of whether colleges and universities can weather the potential storm ahead.
Recent findings by the Civic Learning and Democracy Engagement Coalition, as highlighted by The Chronicle of Higher Education, emphasized that “civil-discourse training must be embedded into the curriculum.”
Inside Higher Ed has shed light on the proactive measures campuses are taking to brace for the forthcoming presidential election. They remind us of the last time higher education faced challenges like these, in the race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016, acknowledging the reality that the 2020 election was a very remote experience because of the pandemic. Localized approaches, like those undertaken by several universities in New York City, are embracing a national trend to preemptively prepare students for possible conflict.
Empowering Faculty to Empower Students
Our Having Constructive Classroom Conversations in Challenging Times webinar is designed to help educators keep classrooms as spaces for meaningful, respectful conversations. This initiative builds on ACUE’s work to guide faculty through the intricacies of community building and constructive dialogue.
Previously, ACUE has explored the importance of supporting faculty in building community. In June, a blog written by Felice Nudelman outlined five guidelines and processes for making constructive conversations possible.
By watching this webinar, you’ll gain firsthand insights from leading experts and acquire actionable strategies to apply in your classroom. Whether you’re seasoned in facilitating challenging discussions or are contemplating how to approach them, this webinar will equip you with the strategies you need.
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