"How do we address difficult topics in our teaching?" - ALL are invited, not only IIT Spring 2024 Cohort participants. 03/29 Friday 3-4PM - STEM, 112.

Following Dr. Ferguson's talk on "Decolonizing the Curriculum," in the second half of our Friday (03/29 Thursday) session from 3-4PM we will have an open forum discussion on "How do we address difficult topics in our teaching?".

Some of those "difficult topics" may not be entirely avoidable in our teaching. Perhaps numerous academic disciplines may at least tangentially touch upon such issues. Is it possible to think that such "difficult topics" may allow us to develop more inclusive learning strategies? Can we learn from one another across the disciplinary boundaries? Also, how could we learn more from our students? As Higher Education (not only in the US, but almost everywhere in the globe) seem to go through "difficult times," let's converse about how do we address "difficult topics" in our respective fields and areas of teaching. We can discuss if there are any disciplines that are "completely free" from difficult topics. How do we address topics that may emerge out of various socio-cultural fault lines? In our times when numerous forms of polarization (perhaps, also "re-tribalization") seem to increase significantly, can we help create more inclusive learning environments and communities? I am hoping that we can have more open-minded conversations and intellectual exchanges across natural sciences, social sciences and humanities, among others. Please join us tomorrow, so that we have a lot of diverse voices that learn from one another. I'll do my best tomorrow to facilitate such a dialogue.

Dr. Volkan Aytar, Teaching Faculty, Sociology & Associate Director, IIT-Spring 2024.