EDSE 522 - Achieving Equity through Courageous Dialogue

When difficult topics arise, our tendency sometimes is to avoid them; or, if we do confront them, emotions and strong opinions can sometimes overrun the conversation, leaving us no better off than we were before. Learning how to talk about difficult topics is a skill that’s often overlooked in the classroom. However, when teachers take the time to foster courageous dialogue about hard-to-discuss topics, students will become more empathetic and equipped to be part of the solution.

In this course, you will confront your personal feelings and biases about difficult topics such as poverty, racism, LGBTQ+ issues, gun violence, entitlement, and more. Once you understand how your own feelings impact your teaching, you will be able to address your weaknesses and leverage your strengths to discuss these topics with your students and teach them how to do the same. You’ll examine the root causes of the most pressing problems facing our society and how these problems impact individuals on an emotional level. Finally, you’ll explore how these problems impact your school and how to effect change on the classroom and staff level.

With the strategies from this course, you’ll be able to teach students the value of listening and honest sharing, and promote a culture of courageous, inclusive, and empathetic conversations in your school.

Note: This course presents an honest and frank discussion of some of the most troubling issues facing students and teachers in 21st-century classrooms. Our aim is to help educators facilitate productive conversations with students about these issues. However, given the difficult nature of these topics, please be aware that course topics and language may be unsettling for some participants.