Intersections
This action-based workshop series for innovative and compassionate educators addresses a multitude of challenging issues that have always been with us - matters of decolonization, diversity, inclusivity, equity, accessibility, and justice. The will among educators to address these issues is strong, but many of us are baffled by their complexity, anxious about “getting it wrong”, and uncertain how to begin. Nonetheless, the time for action has come.
Each workshop in this series will introduce you to a particular issue or point of focus, provide time for participants to think, discuss, share resources, and explore practical strategies to implement into their own pedagogical work.
There will be a mix of facilitators at each workshop: prople who engage thoughtfully with the issues – who have also put specific ideas into action, and educators with experience in innovative practices. Together, they will lead group discussions and exercises that delve into practical strategies and big ideas. Some workshops will focus on classroom practices, some on assessment, some on curriculum – and some touch on all three. What they all share is a commitment to practical application.
Although these workshops are stand-alone events, taken as a series they are designed to explore the implementation of 21st century pedagogy at multiple critical intersections in a way that is collaborative, welcoming, and focused.
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Leaning into the Discomfort: Writing Positionality Statements for Teaching and Learning
In a prior iteration of Leaning into the Discomfort, we focused on transformation in higher education to answer the calls for social justice, sharing our experiences of both exclusion and inclusion through an intersectionality lens, identifying areas for change.
We will continue our efforts to lean into the discomfort by creating positionality and inclusivity statements based upon our unique experiences, honouring our approaches in teaching, learning, and research, reflecting our intentions to support the goals of social justice in higher education.
During this 2-hour workshop, participants will engage in discussions and interdisciplinary techniques to enhance critical self-reflection through an intersectionality lens. Through engaging in deep critical self-reflection, participants will begin to define their positionality and how this informs their goals for inclusivity. As a group, participants will identify strategies to apply standpoints in the classroom environment, through curriculum, in assessment and evaluation strategies, and teaching methods.
Participants will leave the workshop with developing positionality and inclusivity statements and specific strategies to bring their whole selves to teaching and their community of practice.