As faculty members in the Ivan Allen College, we frequently address topics in the classroom that are controversial and even contentious. While students can benefit from engaging in controversial topics there are also many risks and potential pitfalls in these pedagogical situations. While so much of our research and teaching involves engaging with difficult questions and topics, we don’t always have opportunities to discuss these experiences and how to manage them. This roundtable workshop is designed to open up dialogues about teaching controversial topics in our current moment. It will include opportunities for junior faculty to share ideas with faculty who have had significant experience teaching such controversial topics as race, climate change, sexuality, red and blue politics, etc.The workshop will focus on the following:

• designing a course that engages students on controversial topics
• managing classroom discussions on controversial topic
• what to do when an unexpected controversy comes up

The workshop is designed as an opportunity for junior faculty to network with junior and senior colleagues from across the Ivan Allen College. The Provost’s Teaching and Learning Fellows within the Ivan Allen College, and the Center for Teaching and Learning are organizing this workshop for Teaching and Learning. All faculty, postdocs, fellows and graduate students engaged in teaching are welcome to attend.

Below is a list of the event iternary: 

Opening welcome/introduction of speakers:

• Carla Gerona (HSOC)
• Gordon Kingsley (Public Policy)
• Narin Hassan (LMC)

Roundtable participant comments:

• Dan Amsterdam (HSOC)
• Laura Bier (HSOC)
• Aaron Levine (Public Policy)
• Hallie Liebermann (LMC)
• Anna Stenport (ML)

Open Discussion/Response
Closing/Respondent: IAC Dean Jackie Royster

Sign up at: http://ctl.gatech.edu/controversial-topics.