Current events, whether or not they directly relate to course material, can have a profound effect on our students and on their learning. Knowing what to say amidst the stress of traumatic news, and how to direct fraught conversations so students don’t feel excluded, may feel outside our role as teachers. Creating space for these conversations and guiding them, however, are important strategies for creating learning and inclusion in the classroom. In this session, Maria Brea (Steinhardt) and Chandani Patel (Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation) will share some of their strategies for holding space for dialog and compassion in the classroom, while also meeting learning goals. In breakout rooms, participants will have the opportunity to discuss their own challenges navigating current events with students.
