Summary
Thank you for joining us in this workshop on Teaching Contentious Topics!
We have discussed the benefits of and considerations for teaching contentious topics. We also reviewed strategies for setting up, preparing, facilitating, and concluding a discussion on a contentious topic in your course or discipline, and considered how to respond to “hot moments” in the classroom.
Now that you have completed this workshop, you should now be able to:
- Distinguish among “contentious topics,” “stuck conversations,” and “hot moments.”
- Outline some benefits to using contentious topics as a teaching tool.
- Identify strategies for teaching contentious content and promoting learning during “hot moments” by creating a plan for your teaching context.
Learning Catalogue Module Reflection and Feedback
At present this reflection and feedback form is currently only available to those with a McMaster email address. If you would like a copy of the form, please contact mi@mcmaster.ca.
To record your final reflections for your journals or portfolios and to help us enhance and improve the learning experience of this module, please complete the Learning Catalogue Module Reflection and Feedback form.
- You will need your MacId to access the form.
- Ensure you select the option Send me an email receipt of my options at the bottom of the form.
References
- Brookfield, S. D., & Preskill, S. (2005). Discussion as a Way of Teaching: Tools and Techniques for Democratic Classrooms (2nd ed.). Hoboken: Wiley.
- Warren, L. (2006). Managing hot moments in the classroom. Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University.
- Fournier-Sylvester, N. (2013). Daring to debate: Strategies for teaching controversial issues in the classroom. College Quarterly, 16(3).
- DeTemple, J., & Sarrouf, J. (2017). Disruption, dialogue, and swerve: Reflective structured dialogue in religious studies classrooms. Teach Theol Relig, 20(3), 283-292. doi:10.1111/teth.12398
Additional Resources:
Setting the Stage:
- Northeastern University Center for Advancing Teaching & Learning Through Research. (n.d.). Developing a learner-centred syllabus: Setting the structure, pacing, and tone of your course. https://learning.northeastern.edu/developing-a-learner-centered-syllabus/
- University of Michigan Center for Research on Teaching and Learning. (n.d.). Guidelines for classroom interactions. https://crlt.umich.edu/examples-discussion-guidelines
- McMaster University Student Support and Case Management. (n.d.). Netiquette. https://sscm.mcmaster.ca/the-code/netiquette/
- Rasmussen, R. V. (1984). Practical Discussion Techniques for Instructors. AACE Journal, 12(2), 38-47.
- Vandervelde, J. (2016). Discussion rubric examples. Northwestern University. https://www.northwestern.edu/searle/docs/Discussion%20Rubric%20Examples.pdf
- Chen, B., deNoyelles, A., Thompson, K., Sugar, A., & Vargas, J. (2014). Create discussion rubrics. In B. Chen & K. Thompson (Eds.), Teaching online pedagogical repository. Orlando, FL: University of Central Florida Center for Distributed Learning. https://topr.online.ucf.edu/discussion-rubrics/.
Facilitating the Discussion:
- University of Waterloo Centre for Teaching Excellence. (n.d.). Online discussions: Tips for Instructors https://pilots.uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/alternatives-lecturing/discussions/online-discussions-tips-for-instructors
- Souza, T. (2018). Responding to Microaggressions in the Classroom. Faculty Focus. https://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/effective-classroom-management/responding-to-microaggressions-in-the-classroom/
Concluding the Discussion:
- Vanderbilt University Center for Teaching. (n.d.). Difficult dialogues. https://cft.vanderbilt.edu/guides-sub-pages/difficult-dialogues/
McMaster Resources:
- Learning in Colour (Faculty of Social Sciences): Resources and information for fostering and maintaining safer campus spaces informed by the experiences and narratives of Black, Indigenous, and racialized students at McMaster.
- McMaster’s Injury/Incident Report Form
- McMaster’s Equity and Inclusion Office
- McMaster’s Student Wellness Centre
- McMaster’s Student Support & Case Management Office