Wednesday, May 24th and Thursday, May 25th, 2017

Reading: Chapter 1 and Chapter 3 from Teaching to Transgress by bell hooks.

Discussion centered on the notion of “self-actualization” – what it means for the instructor and for the students. The question that was raised was, “How do you know when you are doing this?” Responses included:

• considering how students address faculty (e.g., prof, first name, last name, etc.)
• reflecting in the moment (Did I do the right thing?) and after the fact (reviewing what happened, considering how you could do it better, “member checks” with colleagues, etc.)
• sharing reflections on what happens in the classroom with the students
• succeeding in creating a community where students are open to each other and to the instructor as evidenced by student behaviors and explicit expressions of openness and vulnerability