Hard Bites: An OER Lesson Model for Difficult Discussions
Overview
This lesson is structured to walk learners through how to use OER to build teaching assignments for discussing difficult topics using cultural touchstones. The intent is to not only instruct through the lesson but to also model how to instruct and encourage learners to build their own OER for these types of activities.
Purpose of this activity
Questions to ask for example:
As instructors, ministers, deaconesses, etc... we are at the forefront of difficult conversations. For those in ministry this can be especially difficult and complex because there is not only the difficult conversation, there is being able to communicate the issue theologically.
In this assignment, I am going to model the assignment to use with students: whether they be parents of children, parishioners, or a high-school bible study. These are simply basic culture-based activities that can be used for and by anyone to discuss complex topics.
In this lesson we are going to build our own OER, open educational resources, for an activity to discuss difficult topics. It will provide you with not only a tool for doing such in your own instruction, but also help to build resources for the future. OER framework encourages building tools for discussion, sharing, and further development of ideas. Building these on OER commons not only makes the resource public but also teaches and utilizes important inclusive practices such as ALT text and creating resources for the community rather than for a select few.
By the end of this lesson, we will have
(1) reviewed a basic lesson plan for how to have difficult conversations using cultural touchstones as examples
(2) practiced a simple, teachable activity that can easily be adapted for various groups
(3) built a catalog of open educational resource documents for discussing difficult topics
Let's begin!
Questions to ask for example:
As instructors, ministers, deaconesses, etc... we are at the forefront of difficult conversations. For those in ministry this can be especially difficult and complex because there is not only the difficult conversation, there is being able to communicate the issue theologically.
In this assignment, I am going to model the assignment to use with students: whether they be parents of children, parishioners, or a high-school bible study. These are simply basic culture-based activities that can be used for and by anyone to discuss complex topics.
Whether you are 50 years old and have seen it all, or 16 and still learning how the world works. Humans understand the world around them through cultural outputs, such as literature, film, television, and music.
Let's begin to work through an exercise in developing some cultural analysis that opens up conversations about hard issues, such as gender identity, abortion, sexuality, and mental health.
Using Cultural Touchstones to ask questions
Here is where you need to think about desired goals for how you want to build the output for this lesson.
For ministers and deaconesses and teachers who you are working with in developing their construction of teaching tools, I would encourage you to utilize OER resources as their output for their projects. This example will do so.
However, if you are working with a different demographic, you may want to use google docs or can even have them construct their catalog with pencil and paper.
One thing I can say for google docs, is that you could have everyone in the same document so that they can be realizing in real time that these conversations are things that everyone struggles with and can start forming their thoughts and discussion topics. You can also have them work in groups with this type of platform.
What are some topics that you know could cause awkward discussions, anger, frustration, or insecurity at how to express feelings and knowing the right words to say? One question you can ask to get started is: What are issues you would like to understand and know more about, but do not know how to talk about them, who to ask, and/or what to say?
Can you think of an example of this topic in a film, television series, book, etc?
You've probably already thought of several "hot-button" topics.
Now:Let's build a catalog of cultural issues to discuss difficult topics in a healthy, productive way. This catalog provides us with not only a view of what our group's concerns are but shares with each other how we all have questions that need discussion.
Sometimes the most difficult part of a hard conversation is admitting that we do not know something -- mainly for fear that we are the outsider, the only one, and we will be judged for this lack of knowledge and questions. When we see that others are in the same position, we can be comforted by the fact that we NEED to have these conversations in order to gain understanding, solve, resolve, and learn.
Before we really begin: Ground rules and safe spaces
This is a really important foundation for hard topics and can take a lot of different approaches depending on the audience. Overall what is most important is teaching some level of conflict management through how people speak about topics they have differing opinions on.
Some instructors might choose to have their audience write an agreement for the group. Others can simply have a brief discussion on the topic. Some might need to set the rules, while others can let the classroom work through what rules they want.
One helpful site for ideas can be found at the American Association of University Women's Diversity, Equity & Inclusion toolkit
If you have the time, you can also use a TedTalk or other form of media to show different practices in communication. Such as this TedTalk where the presenter models restorative practices that aim to cultivate empathy through calm discussion: Empathy: The Heart of Difficult Conversations | Michelle Stowe
One of the issues with discussing hard topics in any setting, but especially outside of our comfort zones and though we already know agree with us, is that we are afraid of conflict and judgment. As a general rule, people do not want to risk hurting others or being hurt.
So, what are some good ground rules for having these discussions and thinking about how we are talking about difficult topics?
1. Do not use generalizations (Example: use "I" instead of "We", "They")
Example: X - Pro-Abortion activists are all angry women
O - I have been yelled at about my anti-abortion stance by a family member and it has caused me to feel like I will be met with anger whenever I try to talk about this topic.
2. Actively listen and be aware of non-verbal communication (Example: scowling, rolling eyes, using technology while others are talking)
3. Do not use personal attacks, violent language, slurs, etc... (Example: you don't understand because you are angry about your parent's divorce)
4. Remember that the goal is not to convince others to agree with you! It is to discuss hard topics, and differences, and to learn and understand other viewpoints better.
When building your catalog entry, you can even include one or two ground rules that you might think are helpful for that specific topic.
Building the Class Catalog
The amount of time here is optional and based on your groups needs and constraints. When everyone is done have everyone's page collected into a single "catalog" document
From here you can use this to illustrate or instruct a lot of different facets of culture, hard topics, or teaching. It can be the first step of a larger classroom project for example. Another class period could be on adding a page that responds to these questions by others in the group.
Take 5 minutes and work through these steps:
1. What is a cultural item that touches on a difficult topic, abortion, same-sex marriage, substance abuse, etc... that you feel brings up important issues and questions regarding that topic?
2. Find a reference point from that cultural item (lines of lyrics, still from a film, quote from a book, image from a comic book, etc...) that illustrates your topic and you can share.
3. What are three questions that you have about this topic that the cultural item brought up in your mind?
4. Collect all of these steps in a single document.
Remember when building your catalog entry the ground rules of the group and that you can even include one or two additional ground rules that you might think are helpful for that specific topic.