Critical Conversations in the Classroom

CTL's video introduction to this page

This collection of resources and events is evolving and will continue to be updated. This is part of a campus-wide effort to create space for and educate one another about our multiple cultural contexts, activism, civil discourse, and academic engagement. For more information, and to learn about upcoming events across Pratt, see this page: https://www.pratt.edu/criticalconversations/

We are excited to share with you the CTL’s Guidebook for Challenging Classroom Conversations. The goal of this guide is to offer concrete practices and strategies for addressing sensitive subjects, managing difficult conversations and controversial topics in the classroom or studio, while also fostering an inclusive environment.

“We humanize what is going on in the world and in ourselves only by speaking of it, and in the course of speaking of it we learn to be human.” Hannah Arendt

Communication and Classroom management

Trauma Informed Pedagogy

Difficult Conversations in the Classroom

Resources provided by the Difficult Conversations Faculty Learning Community (FLC.DC)

CTL’s Critical Conversation Programs & Events:

CTL Guidebook for HOT Situations

The CTL created a Guide for holding challenging conversations in academic settings. The goal of this Guide is to offer concrete practices and strategies for addressing sensitive subjects, managing difficult conversations and controversial topics in the classroom or studio, while also fostering an inclusive environment. The Guide is designed to equip faculty with strategies to transform divisive moments into opportunities for growth and understanding, promoting an environment where all students feel valued and engaged. Feedback and suggestions are alway welcome, as the CTL is committed to continually updating this resource in the future. 

TiCW –  Teaching in a Complex World

The CTL supports Pratt faculty in teaching during complex local and global events, offering kind conversations and practical resources to meet participants’ needs. While these informal meetings have no prepared agenda—we encourage faculty to drop in and bring your questions—we have also prepared several interactive exercises and scenarios that address various topics such as setting boundaries, making requests, and practicing mirroring. No RSVP required, find the link through the CTL calendar. Additional times will be added to the calendar later.

9 Guidelines for Healthy Difficult Conversations

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This video and the accompanying PDF guide were created in the 2023-2024 Faculty Learning Community on Difficult Conversations.

  • Screenwriters: Tim Cunningham & XaHara A. MeGod
  • Screenplay: XaHara A. MeGod & Tim Cunningham
  • Editor: XaHara A. MeGod
  • Executive Production: XaHara A. MeGod, Wys Medias Co.

Additional resources

Community Pedagogy Refresh: Self-paced Community Building-themed resource for faculty, by the Pratt CTL with support by, and interviews featuring, Pratt faculty members.

Post-Traumatic Growth and Building Resilience: Seligman, M.E.P. (2011). Interview by Sarah G. Carmichael. Featured Guest: Martin Seligman, director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania and author of the HBR article Building Resilience. He is also the author of Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being.

How to Make Your Teaching More Inclusive: Viji Sathy and Kelly A. Hogan. You may wonder: Is the role of a college instructor to help students feel included and ready to thrive? Is that something I should be doing? As champions of inclusive teaching, and the authors of a new book on the subject, we say — emphatically — yes.

 

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© 2025 Pratt Institute Center for Teaching and Learning.
Except where otherwise noted, content on this site is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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