Maybe it was just this particular moment we’ve been experiencing nationwide, or maybe not…

I had not anticipated that reviewing a syllabus with the intent of making it ZTC or open, would make me ponder equity down to the smallest details.

More specifically, our last session, Open Pedagogy, gave me a chance to review  the need for taking an active stance to promote diversity. This reminded me of how setting up the tune from the start ( syllabus) helps us make our classroom environment more just and welcoming. Validating students’ identities from the design of the class, choice of materials, and even including them in decision making processes, such as assessment choices has indeed reinvigorated my teaching.

The devil, in my case, was found in the smaller deets of creating permalinks, or fixing styles, but I have also had to come to terms with the specific difficulties of teaching Freshman Comp. Picking a main text is not exactly easy when you choose to go with literature or fiction, but there are alternatives. This is where our colleagues in the library have come in very handy.

Overall, I am super grateful for having a chance to rethink my teaching philosophy and practice.