By Alena Aniskiewicz (CISAH)
Across the broad range of topics we cover in our Integrative Arts and Humanities (IAH) courses, we share the goal of empowering our students to approach the world with curiosity and to communicate their ideas effectively and responsibly. Part of the value of our courses is helping MSU students see the value of their own voices and critical perspectives.
This Fall, the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities (CISAH) has organized a series of workshops around the theme of “Valuing Voices, Voicing Value.” Over the course of three workshops, we will consider how we might encourage productive conversations between instructors and students, demonstrate to our students that we value their perspectives, and articulate the value of the work done in the IAH classroom.
Scheduled to anticipate the needs of our instructors early in the semester, Stokes Schwartz (CISAH) will lead a workshop focused on providing resources and strategies for “Navigating Student-Instructor Relations” (Friday, September 19, 10:30am-12:00pm, Zoom). Incorporating presentations from the College of Arts and Letters and the Office of the University Ombudsperson, we will identify appropriate resources to address challenging situations and discuss how we navigate interactions with students to ensure productive exchanges where all voices are heard and respected.
As we reach the midpoint of the semester, Alena Aniskiewicz (CISAH) will offer a workshop on “Engaging Student Feedback in the Classroom” (Friday, October 17, 10:30am-12:00pm, Zoom). Hearing from instructors from across IAH on how they use iClicker, weekly and midterm reflections, and SPLS, we will discuss how such tools can help us create an engaged and feedback-rich classroom where students see their ideas and perspectives are valued.
Finally, we will end by looking ahead to future course planning with a workshop on “Designing Asynchronous Online Courses to Cultivate Student Voices” (Friday, November 14, 10:30am-12:00pm, Zoom). Focusing on building courses that feel personal and interactive, we will consider how our online asynchronous courses can encourage and support students in sharing their ideas and developing their voices – particularly in the era of AI.
With this series of workshops, we will draw on the valuable voices within our community and create a space to share ideas, resources, and strategies to support our instructors as we uphold IAH’s commitment to providing innovative and engaging courses for all our students. We hope to see you this fall!