Teaching During Tense Political Times: Acknowledging the Election in the Classroom
Teaching During Tense Political Times: Acknowledging the Election in the Classroom
October 29 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm EDT
Ray Feller, Associate Dean & Director of Student Support Services
Jane Abbott, Lecturer, Comparative Media Studies
Please join MIT’s Ray Feller and Jane Abbott for an insightful talk on how faculty and instructors can navigate discussions around the 2024 election in today’s polarized political climate. This session will explore strategies for fostering inclusive and respectful classroom discourse, where diverse viewpoints are welcomed and civil dialogue is emphasized. The talk will also address ways to support both student and faculty wellbeing, providing tools and resources to create a constructive, inclusive learning environment during this challenging time.
About the Speakers
Prior to coming to MIT, Ray Feller spent ten years in Community Mental Health, where she worked with people from the ages of 4 to 88. She has worked with students in school settings, including the whole educational spectrum: K-12 and higher ed. Ray is particularly interested in empowering students to become successful self-advocates at MIT and, later, in “real life.”
Jane Abbott came to MIT after eighteen years in industry, where she worked with teams and individuals to improve collaboration. Her focus is on how to produce communication that is effective and authentic; in particular, how listening in its many guises guides the ways in which we write, speak, meet, lead, influence, and collaborate.