Thursday, November 16, 2023
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Community Learning: Trauma-Informed Teaching
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Feature by: Mary Raschko, Associate Dean for Faculty Development
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Each November, I participate in the POD Network conference for educational development. Today, I want to share some highlights from a session on “Supporting Students and Instructors in Addressing Traumatic and Hate-Based Events,” facilitated by Mac Crite and Shed Siliman of American University. I share this information in anticipation of a two-day workshop about trauma-informed teaching coming to Whitman in January.
Research indicates that crises and traumatic events affect students’ learning, even when students are not directly affected by the events themselves, and that students find even small responses helpful. While responding does not need to take up a lot of class time, Crite and Siliman encouraged careful reflection about how to respond based on individual- and event-based factors, and they offered this handout to facilitate that reflection.
Depending on the context, either acknowledging or addressing the event may be the most helpful response:
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- Acknowledgement involves brief action. It might consist of a moment of silence, mentioning counseling services, offering to meet with students or offering flexibility on assignments. Even these small actions can increase students’ sense that they are supported and learning in community.
- Addressing potentially traumatizing or difficult events requires more investment of time and sometimes more skill development from faculty: it might take the form of whole-class discussion or designing a specific lesson or activity. When addressing events, presenters advocated for giving students options to engage in different ways (or not at all)—privately or in groups, expressing through drawing or through words.
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Finally, the session offered helpful guidance for class discussion that reinforces inclusive teaching practices:
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- Be transparent about the goals of discussion.
- Generate or refer back to community guidelines.
- Emphasize curiosity, exploration, listening and reflection, not agreement.
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Eager to know more? Mark your calendars for the mornings of January 11 and 12, when the Community Resilience Initiative will teach us to be a more trauma-informed college during Community Learning Days.
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Whitman Soccer Teams Awarded 15 All-Conference Honors
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Holiday Dinner for Students on Tuesday
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President Sarah Bolton invites any Whitman student who is staying in Walla Walla next week to join her for a Holiday Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 21 at 5 p.m. in Cleveland Commons. This meal is open to all students, regardless of whether they have a meal plan or not.
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OP Rental Shop Offers 3-Day Pricing Over Break
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The Outdoor Program (OP) Rental Shop is offering 3-day rental pricing on any items that are rented over the Thanksgiving Break. The Rental Shop, located in the basement of Reid Campus Center, is open weekdays from noon to 5:30 p.m.
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Artisans Needed for Winter Arts & Crafts Fair
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The Student Activities Office and Reid Campus Center will host the annual Winter Arts & Crafts Fair on Monday, Dec. 4 from 4–6 p.m. in the Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom. Whitman students, staff, and faculty are invited to sign up for a table if they are interested in selling their handcrafted and homemade goods at the event.
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Crisis Support Available for Students
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The Counseling Center provides counseling services for Whitman students by appointment during standard office hours. To speak to crisis counselor after hours, on the weekend or during academic breaks, call the Counseling Center at 509-527-5195 and choose option #2. (See attached flyer.)
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Photo (Noah Leavitt): Earlier this week, Matt Ozuna ’10 (left), Destination Development Manager for State of Washington Tourism, addressed attendees at the kickoff for Walla Walla Valley Tourism Workspace—a series of four workshops which brings together community leaders, local officials and land managers with an aim to create a shared vision for tourism in the Walla Walla Valley. Other presenters included Groover Snell ’17 and Kate Kunkel-Patterson ’13 (right).
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Open Forum: Provost Candidate
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Research Presentation: Social Psychology Faculty Candidate
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Reid Campus Center, Young Ballroom
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Sherwood Athletic Center, Room 114
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Would you like to share an event with campus? Submit the information to the Events Calendar.
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