Re-Envisioning Discomfort in the Classroom (Online)

Learning is meant to be transformative. When acquiring new knowledge, especially when it contradicts prior assumptions, students may experience dissonance, discomfort, and confusion. These experiences may be a catalyst for change and a deepening engagement with the material. Yet, a lack of understanding of discomfort on the part of the teacher “might have unintentional consequences for students who are especially vulnerable” (Anastasia 2015). In this workshop, we will critically explore what it means to create a secure and caring classroom environment, centered on hope and empathy, while also creating space for learners to sit with discomfort, so that they can contemplate the significance and social implications of course material.