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CTLT Home >> Resources >> Teaching Topics >> Classroom Management >> Contract for Productive Classroom Dialogue

FOI: Contract for Productive Classroom Dialogue

Alison Bailey and Kenton Machina
Illinois State University

We, the students and instructor agree to abide by the following principles this semester. The purpose of these principles is to ensure our academic freedom to explore issues relevant to this course, and to ensure that we balance our freedom with an appropriate degree of personal responsibility.

  1. Listen. We will give one another a reasonable chance to speak in class discussions.
  2. Respect One Another. We will recognize that everyone is at a different place with regard to their education and understanding of the material we will be discussing. When someone in this class says or writes something we consider to be silly, offensive, bigoted, disgraceful, or disgusting, we will respond by well-reasoned argumentation, and not with ridicule, name-calling, or gestures.
  3. Take Risks: We will try our best to ask questions, not to be afraid to make mistakes and learn from them. There are no stupid questions; the only stupid question is the one you don't ask.
  4. Embrace Discomfort. [Discomfort = Growth] We recognize that many of the ideas we will cover in class are new; some will frustrate us and may make us uncomfortable. We will take discomfort as a signal that we need to work harder on understanding an issue.
  5. Relate all personal examples to the readings and discussions. We may bring in personal experiences, information, or criticisms learned in other classes but we will make a reasonable effort to relate them to the text or discussion at hand.
  6. Evaluation will be based on quality of argument and not on point of view. When we express our points of view on issues in class and in written work, we agree to evaluate one another based on well-reasoned arguments and not on the basis of whether that person agrees with us.
  7. Give credit where credit is due. When we borrow ideas from others, we will make an honest effort to give them credit.

Signed____________________________ date_____________

Signed____________________________ date_____________