Calling In: Turning Discomfort into Generative Moments

What do we do when a student makes an uncomfortable or even outright racist/sexist/etc. remark? How do we confront microaggressions in class? Rather than 'calling out' students who create discomfort in the classroom, this workshop focuses on how to generatively call them 'in,' and turn difficult moments into teachable ones. We will discuss: how to identify students' comments as ones which can be channeled into productive conversations; tactics for redirecting and anchoring lessons; and how to plan around such moments (how to prepare and debrief students). Given that many instructors will be teaching using Zoom, this workshop will include strategies to address interactions in online classrooms.

After this workshop participants will be able to: 

• Distinguish 'calling in' from 'calling out' as strategies for approaching classroom comments.
• Articulate strategies for handling disruptive comments before, during, and after class conversations.
• Analyze the context of a situation in which a student has made a disruptive comment and select a correspondingly appropriate strategy for addressing the comment.
• Articulate the importance of 'calling in' one's own actions as an instructor.

You may register here.

You will receive Zoom link 24 hours prior to the start of the session.

If you have registered for this event, or are on the waitlist and require an accommodation such as live captioning or interpretation to participate, please contact drakeinstitute@osu.edu. Requests should be made at least two weeks prior to the event, but the university will make every effort to meet requests made after this date.

All members of the university community are welcome in Drake Institute activities, programs, services, and employment —regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, HIV/AIDS status, military status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other bases under the law.

Institute for Teaching and Learning programming is offered in accordance with university guidelines associated with in-person and remote activities. The Institute will inform registrants of delivery modifications should those guidelines change.