Emergent Collaborative Inquiry Workshop, How to Navigate Difficult Conversations, Especially Related to the US Presidential Election

By Felix Iannone, September 11, 2024

Emergent Collaborative Inquiry; How to Navigate Difficult Conversations In Class, Especially Related to the US Presidential Election

As an instructor, have you had the experience of being stuck in a difficult moment in the classroom, where you aren’t sure what the next right move would be? As the US presidential race heats up, are you wondering how best to navigate politics as they arise in your classroom?

The Center for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (CEIB) and the Center for Faculty Excellence (CFE) are collaborating on a series designed to create a place for faculty conversations about emergent topics that affect us as educators. Begun last year, the Emergent Collaborative Inquiry series relies on the concept of holding space to strive to create a place that allows people with a range of expertise and relationships to a given topic to have conversations on subjects we are uncertain about, but nonetheless affect us and our work as educators. The space invites uncomfortable conversations with the goal of building skills and language to navigate challenges and change in educational spaces. Ideally, this is a space to ask honest questions, grapple with uncertainty, and learn from one another about how different topics show up in the classroom, rehearsal spaces, labs, etc. It is not a space intended for argumentation or reaching collective consensus. Rather, it’s a facilitated dialogue and exploration around our experiences as educators. Consider joining your colleagues in this conversation.

The next Emergent Collaborative Inquiry will focus on how to navigate difficult conversations/moments in class, especially related to the US presidential election.This session is scheduled for Thursday, September 12, 9:30-10:30 AM, in the Center for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (Job Hall, Suite 219).  Light snacks will be provided.To keep the conversation manageable, space is limited to 10 participants each session. RSVP here.

Do you have a topic that you would like to suggest for the next Emergent Collaborative Inquiry session?If so, please let us know at eib@ithaca.edu.