Dialogic Pedagogies for Discussing Difficult Topics (In-Person)

Course instructors often encounter tensions around difficult topics that engage issues of identity across differences in power and culture. This workshop encourages participants to explore how dialogic pedagogical approaches can be used to navigate and encourage difficult conversations in the classroom. Participants will be introduced to the philosophies of dialogic pedagogies, exploring what they can offer to encourage critical thinking while fostering inclusive classroom climates that support diverse students. We will then explore how dialogic strategies approach tensions that can arise in teaching in higher education, and strategies for applying dialogic approaches in the classroom and assessments. We end with reflections on how we can ground our own teaching in a dialogical ethics of practice.