Touchstones Teachers' Symposium

St. John's College succeeds in delivering its promise to foster in its students strong capacities for analysis and synthesis, reflection and revision, hearing critiques and competing ideas, communicating complexity, fearlessly tackling new content, and solving problems with original thinking. These strengths lead many to pursue careers in education. The challenge that presents is that of employing the didactic power of discussion in various learning environments beyond the College.

This symposium is intended to provide those interested in education, students and practitioners alike, a dedicated forum in which to consider potential and actual problems and pathways to cultivating inclusive discussion-based learning in K-12 and higher ed classrooms. This initiative offers all participants opportunities to consider various approaches and models and direct engagement in a Touchstones Discussion Project class, which intentionally cultivates skills of civil discourse and collaboration. Attendees–alumni and current students in the GI and undergraduate programs–will also establish new contacts and initiate mentoring partnerships based on individual interests and career goals. Each of the symposium components engages the participants in reflecting on their interest in education and applying their learning beyond the seminar table to other settings, environments, and people.

9:30am – Welcome and Introductions

9:40am – What does it mean to be a teacher? or Who is a teacher? – Continuing the

Conversation (What is a discussion?)

9:50am – Stepping into a Touchstones Discussion

10:45am – Roundtable:

  • Discussion Questions
    1. i) Exploration of education and discussion – What are some of the unique benefits of dialogue as a teaching and learning tool?
    2. ii) Brigadoon: Trying to raise the magic of discussion as a teacher in the classroom – What are the barriers to discussion-based teaching?
    3. iii) Pedagogy, Practice, Listening and Speech – What does it mean to develop discussion skills with intentionality?
    4. iv) Prospero's Island: How can we, as teachers, share the magic of discussion-based learning with our students in grades K-12?

11:10am – Mentoring

  • Connecting and Supporting

All attendees interested in careers or in advancing their current careers in education will partner with alumni to ask questions, share feedback and suggestions, and receive recommendations for next steps. This time will be spent with current educators meeting others who are more experienced or who may have a perspective from an alternative professional viewpoint.

11:25am – Concluding remarks and thanks

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