Teaching with Awareness: Understanding Instructor Impact

THIS WORKSHOP IS FOR KPU FACULTY.

Facilitators: Amanda Grey and Gillian Sudlow
Date: Mon, Sept 22, 10:00AM-12:00PM
Online workshop. Zoom link provided upon registration.

Instructors hold both visible and invisible forms of power that shape student experiences, yet many of these influences often go unnoticed.  Recognizing how seemingly neutral decisions—from assessment timing to communication style—can either reinforce or dismantle inequities.  

This workshop will provide an opportunity to critically reflect on how to navigate these challenges thoughtfully.  You'll examine the distinction between visible power (grades, deadlines, classroom management) and invisible power (discussion topics, learning activities, communication style). We'll flip perspectives to consider how students experience and respond to classroom relationships, then explore how the Pedagogy of Care and open pedagogy can help create more equitable learning environments. Through scenario-based discussions and collaborative reflection, you'll develop strategies for sharing power more thoughtfully in your own teaching context.

Through engaging in the activities and content of this workshop, you have the opportunity to 

• Distinguish between visible and invisible power  

• Reflect on power relationships between instructors and students 

• Develop strategies for mitigating power inequities