In this project, students engage with a cross-disciplinary website offering activities and exercises that connect course readings to real-world issues like racism, gender inequality, and Islamophobia. The resource aims to develop critical thinking, research, and writing skills while fostering peer interaction and a commitment to social justice, equity, and inclusion.Author: Srijani Ghosh, Lecturer in Theater Dance and Performance StudiesGrant Type: Lecturer Teaching Fellows Program (LTF)Project Details: "Pursuing Social Justice through Conversations between Course Readings and the Real World" |
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From the author: "In my discussion-based R1A and R1B classes, I have frequently noticed that many students feel that issues such as racism, or gender inequality, or Islamophobia, happened “back then,” even when Black Lives Matter, the #metoo movement, or President Trump’s “Muslim ban” were the leading news headlines. This outlook that we live in a post-racist, post-sexist, or post-feminist world leads to the mistaken assumption that diversity, equity, and inclusion have already been achieved in the socio-cultural spaces that we inhabit and no further individual or community initiatives are particularly necessary. I would like to develop a website as a cross-disciplinary resource that will include activities and exercises that educators in the humanities and social sciences could use to stimulate students to make connections between their course readings and the real world and be cognizant of the ongoing need for our collective efforts to actively work towards social justice in our communities and foster a culture of equity and inclusion. This project will also aim to develop students’ critical thinking, research skills, and argumentative writing skills, boost peer interaction, and also contextualize student learning."