TLA Dialogue Questions for Winter 2019

January 10, 2019

How does safety influence our educational experiences? Is obtaining an education a political act? How does resistance to change and fear of the unknown influence academia and impact our own lives?  Join students, faculty, staff, and community members as they consider questions like these during this quarter’s Teaching-Learning Academy (TLA) dialogue sessions.

The TLA meets from 12-12:50 p.m. every other Wednesday and Thursday beginning January 16 and 17. No registration is required, and participants are free to drop in and join the groups even if they cannot stay for the entire session.

Two of the dialogue questions this quarter are offered in affiliation with the Western Reads program, and are designed to complement specific selections from the book, Octavia’s Brood: Science Fiction Stories from Social Justice Movements.

Dates and questions are listed below:

  • Jan 16 & 17: How does safety influence our educational experiences?
  • Jan 30 & 31: How does resistance to change and fear of the unknown influence academia and impact your own life? (affiliated with the chapter “Small and Bright” from the 2018 Western Reads book, Octavia’s Brood).
  • Feb 13 & 14: Is obtaining an education a political act?
  • Feb 27 & 28: In what ways do we as an institution, community, and individuals both uphold and combat systems of racial inequality and "token"ization? (affiliated with the chapter “The Token Superhero,” from the  2018 Western Reads book, Octavia’s Brood)
  • Mar 13 & 14: What takes priority, a learner's creativity or the institution's expectations?

Participants in TLA consistently report that the dialogue sessions provide a great way to connect with others outside of their disciplines and departments, and to learn more about Western’s teaching and learning culture. Many say it also gives them a chance to take a breath and just listen to what others, especially students, really think.

The goals of each dialogue session are to share well-rounded views related to teaching and learning, while encouraging the use of listening to understand and appreciate differences, and promoting open-mindedness and mutual respect for diverse perspectives.  

For more information, see http://library.wwu.edu/tla.  To sign up for the TLA listserv, email TLA@wwu.edu. (Students: there is also an opportunity to participate in the TLA for LIBR 340 “Speaking and Listening” practicum credit. For more information, contact:  Shevell.Thibou@wwu.edu.)