SCS-17: Celebrating Community in Classical Pedagogy

Sponsored by:

The Graduate Student Committee

Organizers

Nadhira Hill, University of Michigan; Christopher Stedman Parmenter, The Ohio State University

Introducers

Nadhira Hill, University of Michigan; Christopher Stedman Parmenter, The Ohio State University

Description

Graduate instructors stand at the front lines of higher education. As universities have emerged from three years of the pandemic, student-instructors - one hand still apprenticing in the profession, and on the other serving as the face of their departments most undergraduates - have disproportionately borne the burden of the changing climate in academia. Graduate instructors are at the forefront of pedagogical innovation in Classical Studies, and the goal of this panel - sponsored by the SCS Graduate Student Committee - is to serve as a forum for their work. The theme of our panel, χαρᾷ μάθος (learning through joy) is inspired by the line in Aeschylus' Agamemnon (177) πάθει μάθος (learning through pain), a phrase one could use to describe the experience of teaching through the pandemic.

Together, our four panelists are geographically diverse and represent the diversity of approaches, and teaching philosophies that can be used to connect students to the ancient world. These panelists highlight the role of personal connection, creative engagement, and most importantly, a sense of community in and through learning. While all panelists have a dedication to public-facing education, they come from an array of academic interests, backgrounds, and institutions, and each in their own way emphasize the joy in both teaching and learning and a commitment to accessibility and inclusivity in the classroom and in the greater field of classical studies.