Anti-Racist Teaching Series

This is an exceptionally challenging and wildly important time to be an educator, as our students grapple with isolation from their regular social connections, a new (and mostly online) educational landscape, traumatic images in the media, and some big questions that arise as a result of current events. Sometimes referred to as a “double pandemic,” the systemic racism resulting in George Floyd’s murder and the COVID-19 crisis have created circumstances that challenge us to reflect, unlearn, look inward, and imagine new ways to generate educational – and societal – change. This workshop series is for UBC faculty, staff, and educators who wish to cultivate a teaching or facilitation practice that serves as a form of solidarity, and is premised upon research and popular education pedagogy in the areas of anti-racism, equity, and inclusion. 

Participants will be guided through reflection on their own roles and fears as educators, and develop an introductory understanding of concepts such as anti-racism, privilege, allyship, and solidarity especially in the context of online teaching and learning. This workshop series also includes the identification and intensive unpacking of harmful phrases that can lead to further marginalization of racialized or excluded students. Particular attention will be paid to helping educators with specific teaching strategies, practical tools, and relevant resources for their teaching practice.

We welcome participants from a broad spectrum of existing knowledge on these topics, all the way from an introductory level to an advanced level; All are welcome.

Workshops in this series do not have to be taken in an exact order, but we do recommend that you begin with “Identity Matters” if you need an introduction to basic concepts around power and privilege and end with “Exploring Complex Classroom Dynamics Using Case-Studies”.  

• Identity Matters: Connecting Power, Privilege and Bias to Anti-Racism Work 
• Foundations in Anti-Racism and Solidarity in University Teaching 
• Identifying and Responding to Harmful Phrases 
• Navigating Emotional Responses in the Classroom 
• Exploring Complex Classroom Dynamics Using Case-Studies