Checklist

A simple self-assessment.

These questions are meant to help you sort through your feelings about teaching during a time of crisis. You can answer the prompts or take them into different directions. It is meant as a re-orientation to your own needs as an instructor.

An example has been generously shared by Lily Richard-Cox.

1. What do your students need?

   • Why is this the first question we ask ourselves?

   • Why is it difficult for teachers to consider our needs in our classrooms?

   • What boundaries do you need to not burn out this semester?

   • How can you can you care for yourself the same way you do your students?

   • Realistically, where does teaching fall on your list of priorities this semester?

     • If you are adjunct faculty - do you receive fair and equal pay?

     • If you are a woman, queer, person of color, disabled, and/or were first generation college students - is your invisible labor recognized?

     • If you have health concerns for you or your loved ones - are you receiving the support you need/require from your employer?

2. What do you need?

   • Hint: The first thing isn’t a list of course objectives.

   • What resources do you need?

     • As a human being?

     • As an artist?

     • As a teacher?

     • As a part of a community?

   • Have you had a moment to mourn, to grieve, or even to catch your breath?

   • Have you read this resource called Teaching in Times of Crisis?

     • Background: This guide was written in response to 9/11 and adapted later as more research was made available. It is by far the most helpful piece I've read so far.

3. What lessons do you actually want to teach this semester?

   • • Which lessons bring you joy?

     • What topics make you the most excited to share?

     • Who are the artists that inspire you?

     • What do you wish you'd learned about while in school?

4. What gaps can you address in your own teaching?

   • • How can you address issues of diversity, inclusion, and equity?

     • What problematic content/creators from the canon can you let go of in your teaching?

     • Who are contemporary BIPOC artists that you can incorporate into your resources?

       • Note: BIPOC = Black, Indigenous, and People of Color

     • What about queer artists, artists with disabilities, rural artists, etc.?

     • What is the history of your college/university with regards to racism?

       • Can you incorporate that into your teaching?

5. What skills do you believe will help us survive? (Yes, really.)

   • • What are skills from the arts that extend beyond our practice?

       • Learning to build community

       • Learning to communicate

       • Learning to connect

       • Learning empathy

       • Learning to ground yourself

       • Learning to be present to the moment

       • Learning to understand others

       • Learning to experiment

       • Learning to fail

       • etc.

     • Which of these skills do you feel are the most important for future artists?

     • What lessons do you already have in your repertoire that can teach these skills?