Metropolitan State College Metropolitan State College ofof DDenverenver

Faculty Learning Community Faculty Learning Community

2012 Spring Forum2012 Spring Forum

Dr. Karam Adibifar (SOCIOLOGY) Dr. Antonio Bellisario (GEOGRAPHY) Dean Art Campa (LETTERS, ARTS, SCIENCES) Dr. Deborah Horan (TEACHER EDUCATION) Dr. Elizabeth Mendez-Shannon ( SOCIAL WORK) Dr. David Piacenti (SOCIOLOGY) Dr. Nick Recker (SOCIOLOGY) Dr. Luis Rivas (ENGLISH) Adam Stowe (CAMP) Dr. Adriann Wycoff (CHICAN@ STUDIES)

How can we challenge?How can we challenge? Questioning what we/I “say”Questioning what we/I “say”

Unpack the ideologies and assumptions underlying our rhetoric Unpack the ideologies and assumptions underlying our rhetoric How does what I say (word choices, discourse patterns) reflect How does what I say (word choices, discourse patterns) reflect

my deeper assumptions and beliefs?my deeper assumptions and beliefs?   Questioning what we/I “know”Questioning what we/I “know”

Create new meaning by addressing the cognitive dissonance Create new meaning by addressing the cognitive dissonance that results from information (empirical data, etc.) that that results from information (empirical data, etc.) that appears to differ from our background knowledgeappears to differ from our background knowledge

How can I challenge and extend what I know? How can I challenge and extend what I know?    Questioning what we/I “feel”Questioning what we/I “feel”

Develop affective awareness of the lived experiences of Develop affective awareness of the lived experiences of people different than ourselvespeople different than ourselves

How do other people experience the world in ways that I do How do other people experience the world in ways that I do not? not?

  

Foster critical and reflexive Foster critical and reflexive

thinking among students by thinking among students by modeling this stance in our modeling this stance in our professional lives and by professional lives and by creating learning opportunities creating learning opportunities that foster active questioningthat foster active questioning

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Please get into Please get into pairs for a role-pairs for a role-

playing scenario…playing scenario…

CitizensCitizens            DocumentedDocumented                  UndocumentedUndocumented

Could be Terrorists:               yes                   yes                            yesCould be Terrorists:               yes                   yes                            yesPay Taxes:                   most do             most do                    most Pay Taxes:                   most do             most do                    most

dodoSupport the Economy:    yes                    yes                           yesSupport the Economy:    yes                    yes                           yesHave Legal Rights:                 yes                     some                        fewHave Legal Rights:                 yes                     some                        fewAccept Jobs:Accept Jobs: yes                     yes                           yes yes                     yes                           yesCommit Crimes:            most            less       leastCommit Crimes:            most            less       leastLike Living in US:Like Living in US:       most                   most                              most                   most                       

 most mostAre Learning English:            most                  most                         mostAre Learning English:            most                  most                         mostStrong Family Values:   yes                yes                            yesStrong Family Values:   yes                yes                            yes

Challenging what we/I “know”Challenging what we/I “know” Create new meaning by addressing the cognitive dissonance that results from Create new meaning by addressing the cognitive dissonance that results from

information (empirical data, etc.) that appears to differ from our background information (empirical data, etc.) that appears to differ from our background knowledgeknowledge

How can I challenge and extend what I know? How can I challenge and extend what I know?

Because rhetoric is never free from an ideology, each statement both represents the individual and perpetuates the individual’s ideology without question, therefore sketching a group through that process.

How do we problematize what the speakers are saying about themselves and how they are attempting to represent the “other?”

Example: What do these terms really mean and how does the speaker use them:

Break the law “criminals”Stealing “our jobs”

Challenging what we/I “say” Unpack the ideologies and assumptions underlying our rhetoric How does what I say (word choices, discourse patterns) reflect my

deeper assumptions and beliefs?

The assumption is that students are encouraged to The assumption is that students are encouraged to express their opinions in a safe classroom environment express their opinions in a safe classroom environment encouraging diverse statements and inclusionary encouraging diverse statements and inclusionary supportsupport 1. Establish ground rules for discussion1. Establish ground rules for discussion

Using the “I” tense when making statementsUsing the “I” tense when making statements No cross-talkingNo cross-talking Acknowledging strong emotionsAcknowledging strong emotions

2.2. Integrating statistics and research to support Integrating statistics and research to support viewpointsviewpoints

3.3. Sharing practice experiences leading to viewpointsSharing practice experiences leading to viewpoints

Questioning what we/I “feel”Questioning what we/I “feel” Develop affective awareness of the lived experiences Develop affective awareness of the lived experiences

of people different than ourselvesof people different than ourselves How do other people experience the world in ways that How do other people experience the world in ways that

I do not? I do not?

Critique ideas, not peopleCritique ideas, not people Use evidence to support your ideasUse evidence to support your ideas No personal attacksNo personal attacks Allow classmates to respondAllow classmates to respond Do not take the critique of ideas personallyDo not take the critique of ideas personally Avoid anecdotal and dramatic examplesAvoid anecdotal and dramatic examples Most importantly: REMEMBER THAT, LIKE Most importantly: REMEMBER THAT, LIKE

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND GENDER IDENITY, CITIZENSHIP IS VOLUNTARILY-OFFERED CITIZENSHIP IS VOLUNTARILY-OFFERED INFORMATION—CAMP STUDENTS…INFORMATION—CAMP STUDENTS…

David Piacenti: dpiacent@mscd.eduC. Elizabeth Mendez:

cmendezs@mscd.edu

Thank you for participating!

Enjoy the rest of the Spring

Forum!