WE COMMIT TO
Arriving present, prepared, ready. We will arrive well-rested, nourished, and ready to be open to our collective community.
Being aware of our own and others' ways of being. Those who tend to speak often can be mindful of stepping back to create space for others; those who tend not to speak can make an effort to contribute to the conversation even when doing so feels risky.
Listening deeply. When a class member is sharing, do your best to listen to and attend to them (rather than focusing on what you want to say or other distractions).
Embracing discomfort. We agree that we will not always agree, especially about things we care deeply about. Therefore, we will openly acknowledge when we feel a sense of conflict or discomfort, and we will help each other navigate these moments.
Treating this as a brave space. We will maintain all of the qualities of a safe space (including making positive contributions, welcoming diverse perspectives, maintaining one another’s confidence) while also nurturing the qualities of a brave space, such as challenging one another to learn and grow.
On-line postings and discussions should reflect a primary focus on the posted topic/assignment and demonstrate ethical and professional standards of conduct. These include:
Confidentiality related to all conversations that arise in our classroom.
Professional respect for all colleagues, peers, educators we encounter.
Language appropriate for professional discourse. Consider it a professional conversation rather than a typical personal chat.
A positive, proactive approach to problem solving as challenges arise.
Due to the highly participatory nature of this course, any pattern of non-participation, unprofessional behavior, absence from seminar or other collaborative time, or inability to cooperate with your team may be cause for re-evaluating your options for continuation in the course.
We have just 15 synchronous seminar meetings. Therefore, attendance is required, and any absence will dramatically and adversely impact your ability to succeed in this seminar. That said, should some extreme emergency arise that prevents you from attending, or causes you to be late, please contact me as soon as you become aware of the problem. If you miss a portion of a meeting, contact your peers to find out what you missed, then follow up with me to ensure you are caught up on homework and missed in-seminar assignments.