Weinstein Series has lofty goal--create a more inclusive classroom

The School of Arts & Sciences’ Weinstein Series launched an engaging conversation this fall on classroom experiences at Richmond and the impact of pluralism on teaching and scholarship.  The series, “Pluralism and Pedagogies,” invites faculty and students to engage in panel discussions and online conversations about the changing definition and influence of pluralism in academic fields and its impact, theoretical and experiential, on pedagogical approaches.

On November 8, faculty members from Weinstein Hall, representing sociology and anthropology, political science, journalism, and rhetoric and communication studies, sat on a panel that defined pluralism across their various disciplines and departments.  The panel talked about how pluralism and the changing natures of faculty and student populations shape pedagogy.

On November 28, a similar panel discussion took place with students.  Students from Weinstein Hall disciplines discussed pluralism and teaching from their perspective.  They talked about the classroom environment and what faculty can do to encourage a more inclusive experience.

At the conclusion of the panel discussions, two internal electronic discussion forums--one for faculty and one for students--launched to allow people from across campus to comment and reflect on teaching, learning and the increasingly diverse and global educational environment. These forums will remain up through March of 2008.

The conversation culminates in a final panel discussion on March 20 when students and faculty will come back together to synthesize what they’ve learned over the five-month discussion. Organizers hope that the dialogue won’t end there, however, and that the real result of the conversation will be a more inclusive campus and classroom environment.

Posted November 1, 2007