Difficult Dialogues Faculty Workshops
Our Difficult Dialogues workshops provide training for faculty interested in teaching one of our undergraduate courses through the Difficult Dialogues program. These workshops are designed to share techniques and resources for facilitating classroom conversation on difficult topics, which may range from cultural heritage, gender and sexuality, religion in society, immigration, race, and ethnicity. Our workshops host a guest speaker and invite up to 20 faculty members to participate in a full-day workshop and a series of working lunches throughout the semester. Below is a list of the workshops we have offered in past years.
2021
Faculty-Led Professional Development Workshops
Each month during the Spring 2021 semester, we host several interactive, 50-minute Difficult Dialogues workshops open to all faculty, led by highly effective, engaging faculty presenters. They share resources and strategies for conducting classroom dialogues around sensitive and controversial topics in interactive 50-minute workshops.
January 29: Professor Gloria González-Lopez, "Self-Care"
February (Rescheduled to March 12): Professor Katie Dawson, "Dialogic Meaning-Making through Multiple Modes"
March 26: Professor Shetal Vohra-Gupta, "Helping Students Think Through Positionality"
April 23: Professor Danica Sumpter, "'Warm Calling' and Collaborative Annotation"
2020
Difficult Dialogues Faculty Learning Community
An interdisciplinary community of practice that meets bimonthly to discuss classroom challenges, share resources, and explore theories of dialogic pedagogy. Funded by the Provost's Teaching Fellowship.
Spring 2020 Members: Pascale Bos (Germanic Studies), Alison Kafer (English), Marcelo Paixão (African and African Diaspora Studies), Sofian Merabet (Anthropology), Sarah Ropp (Comparative Literature), Suzy Seriff (Anthropology), Pauline Strong (Anthropology), Danica Sumpter (Nursing), and Patricia Wilson (Architecture).
2019
Difficult Dialogues Course Design Workshop
Presenter: Lori Holleran Steiker, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies, Steve Hicks Professor of Addiction, Recovery and Substance Use Services at the Steve Hicks School of Social Work, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and the Director of Instruction, Engagement and Wellness at the School of Undergraduate Studies
Presenter and Workshop Leader: Pauline Strong
2018
Difficult Dialogues / Planet Texas 2050 Teaching Workshop
Presenter: Libby Roderick, Associate Director, Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence at the University of Alaska-Anchorage
(The presentation by Libby Roderick at the 2018 Humanities Institute / Planet Texas 2050 Difficult Dialogues on the Environment Workshop can be viewed HERE.)
Panelists: Jay Banner, (Geological Sciences), Erika Bsumek (History), Jason Cons (Anthropology), Robert Jensen (Journalism), Fikile Nxumalo (Curriculum and Instruction), Megan Raby (History), and Arlene Rosen (Anthropology)
Workshop Leader: Pauline Strong
2017
Teaching through Dialogue Spring Symposium
Panelists: Juli Fellows, Gloria Gonzalez-Lopez, Robert Crosnoe, Steve Friesen, Megan Alrutz, Barbara Jones, Luis Cárcamo-Huechante, Patricia Wilson, and Rasha Diab
Workshop Leaders: Madeline Maxwell and Pauline Strong
2016
"Safe Space/Brace Space: Creating Safe But Challenging Learning Environments," May Workshop
Presenter: Libby Roderick, Associate Director, Center for Advancing Faculty Excellence at the University of Alaska-Anchorage
2014
"The Five Minute Rule and Other Strategies for Dialogue," September Workshop
Presenter: Libby Roderick, Director, Difficult Dialogues at the University of Alaska-Anchorage
"Stop Talking: Ancient Pedagogies for a Sustainable Future," May Workshop
Presenters: Ilarion (Larry) Merculief, Aleut leader and Director of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways and Libby Roderick, Director, Difficult Dialogues at the University of Alaska-Anchorage
2013
"Controversial Conversations in the Classroom," March Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Sheldon Eklund-Olson, Director, School of Human Ecology at the University of Texas at Austin
2012
"Constructive Dialogue in the Classroom," August Workshop
Morning Presenter: Dr. Juli Fellows, Dialogue Consultant
Afternoon Roundtable led by Difficult Dialogues faculty Dr. Barbara Jones, School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin, and Dr. Suzanne Seriff, UT Department of Anthropology at the University of Texas at Austin
"Using Writing to Promote Dialogue," October Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Susan Schorn, School of Undergraduate Studies Writing Center Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin
"Difficult Responses, Difficult Silences," February Workshop
Presenters: Dr. Barbara Jones and Dr. Dnika Travis, School of Social Work at the University of Texas at Austin
"Using Social Media to Support Writing and Dialogue"
Presenter: Dr. Susan Schorn, School of Undergraduate Studies Writing Center Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin
2011
"Using Writing to Promote Dialogue," September Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Susan Schorn, School of Undergraduate Studies Writing Center Coordinator at the University of Texas at Austin
2010
"Dialogue Techniques," May Half-Day Workshop for Difficult Dialogue and interested faculty
Presenter: Dr. Juli Fellows, Dialogue Consultant
"Dialogue in the Classroom," April Workshop
Presenter: Dr. Michele Guzmán, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at the University of Texas at Austin
"Evaluating Difficult Dialogue Courses," March Workshop
Presenters: Dr. Polly Strong, Director, Humanities Institute at the University of Texas at Austin and Difficult Dialogues PI and Ms. Leslie Atchley, School of Undergraduate Studies at the University of Texas at Austin
"Academic Freedom," February Workshop
Presenter: Dr. David Rabban, School of Law at the University of Texas at Austin
