Note: This event has already taken place.
Link to session slides | Link to session handout
Date: Tuesday August 20th 2024 | Time: 12pm-1:30pm Eastern US/ 11am Central/ 10am Mountain/ 9am Pacific
As a faculty developer and consultant who does a lot of work on Neurodiversity, I frequently get asked some of the following questions:
“How should I structure group work to be more inclusive of neurodivergent students?”
“Some of my neurodivergent students are asking to be exempted from group work – how should I respond to this request?”
“Students with and without documented disabilities are increasingly expressing anxiety about class participation, attendance, and interaction with other students. How can I sensitively support students and their differing needs in these areas?”
Of course, there are no “easy” answers to these questions, but I thought it might be nice to create some space before the upcoming semester to consider them together. I will present some ideas that I draw on in my work from neurodiversity theory, UDL, and feminist pedagogy to ground the conversation. Then, participants will have the opportunity to try out several “discussion protocols,” or guidelines for class or small group discussions that help to clarify expectations and roles. Lastly, there will be an open discussion opportunity, with multiple ways to participate.
Access notes: This event is remote, and will be held on Zoom. All materials will be provided ahead of time in an accessible format. Chat will be enabled for the Zoom meeting, and cameras will not be required. We will also have live captioning. Breakout rooms may be used, but participation will not be required. There will be one scheduled break during the event. Please let me know about any access needs using my contact form.
Timing and recording: The session will last about 1 hour and 30 minutes, with about 1 hour of content and about 30 minutes of reflection and discussion. I am happy to make a recording for those interested.
Please register for the event on Zoom.
This event is free, but a $10 donation is appreciated to help cover the costs of live transcription and my time. Please send donations to @sarah-silverman-6 on Venmo or @silvermansarah on PayPal.
Facilitator Bio:
Sarah Silverman, PhD is an instructional designer and instructor of Disability Studies. As an autistic educator, she has a personal stake in Neurodiversity and also has extensive college teaching and faculty development experience. Her interests include accessible and feminist pedagogy, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and disability-informed critiques of educational technology. Her writings appear in To Improve the Academy, the Journal of Interactive Technology and Pedagogy, the blog Feminist Pedagogy for Teaching Online, New Directions for Teaching and Learning, and on her personal website.
Image description: Two pelicans floating on water. Photo by Simon Hurry on Unsplash
Sarah E. Silverman 
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