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Discussion + Civil Dialogue

Community of Practice, Sponsored by CATL

We want to know about your interests and plan for your attendance! Complete this short interest form TODAY.

CATL is hosting a Community of Practice for AY 2025-26 to share and explore how instructors can foster civil dialogue and meaningful discussions in the classroom. We aim to build on the momentum from The Discussion Project hosted in May 2024 and 2025, and continue these cross-campus conversations about promoting productive dialogue and engagement in our classes. UWL instructors who are interested in, or already incorporating, strategies for guiding discussions on complex topics are encouraged to join. This community provides an opportunity to share, reflect on, and develop approaches for encouraging thoughtful discourse, with a goal of disseminating our insights across the university.

Potential topics include:

  • Encouraging civil dialogue in diverse classrooms
  • Managing difficult or contentious conversations
  • Techniques for fostering respectful discussion
  • Guiding students in articulating differing viewpoints
  • Balancing open dialogue with maintaining classroom harmony
  • Strategies for promoting critical thinking through conversation
  • Incorporating dialogue into Eagle Advantage competencies

Target Population: This Community of Practice is intended to connect instructors who are engaging with or interested in using structured dialogue and discussion in their classrooms. We are seeking a diverse range of perspectives and experiences related to fostering civil discourse in academic settings.

What are the benefits of participation?
Participating in this Community of Practice provides instructors with:

  • An opportunity to be intentional, specific, and clear about fostering meaningful discussions and student engagement
  • Independence and flexibility to enhance courses by identifying strategies that suit their unique classroom environments
  • Time to develop collegiality by building a supportive and encouraging network
  • A space to transform theory and research into actionable teaching practices
  • An avenue to pursue knowledge and skills that promote civil discourse and open dialogue
    Insight and materials that may be valuable for promotion and tenure processes

Who can participate? Anyone interested in fostering meaningful and civil dialogue in their classes is welcome. We are seeking a variety of approaches and viewpoints to enrich these conversations.

What is the time commitment? Participation over the academic year would require approximately 15 to 20 hours of your time. Meetings are designed to connect people who may not typically interact, providing a shared space to communicate, share information, and explore new possibilities. Readings, resources, and thought-provoking questions will be provided ahead of meetings, and participants are encouraged to continue exploring these ideas between sessions.

Facilitator: Ashley Edwards - CATL Inclusive Teaching Specialist & Associate Professor, Communication Studies

Learn more about COP. Contact CATL to discuss your ideas and interest. 

Related campus initiatives

Transformational education

When

  • 10 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7
  • 10 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 4
  • 10 to 10:50 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 2

Where

161 Wing Technology Center

UWL campus map for building location and nearby parking lots.

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse Wing Technology Center

If you go

  • Free, registration required
  • Details

Contact

For questions about this event or to request disability accommodations , contact UWL CATL at 6881 or CATL@uwlax.edu.

Parking

Payment may be required. No permit?
Use Passport Parking.

Additional parking info
Website for Parking | Email for Parking | Call for Parking

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