Motivation to Teach Social Action:
I am interested in using this program as a space to think through integrating the various bodies of knowledge and experience that I have developed before and during my PhD into a course that will be effective at supporting university students in taking social action, from a position of intellectual humility. and optimizing their engagement with non-university communities. I am interested in learning from fellow participants not only how to facilitate student-led social action within the context of a semester long, academic course, that fits the various institutionmal demands, but also how to encourage students to think about how their role as students and members of the university might shape the action that they take.
Course Description:
This course is designed for undergraduate students interested in shifting from thinking about social problems to organizing and taking action in pursuit of social change. Students will learn about both the technical and ethical tensions that accompany community organizing. In addition to designing and piloting a social action campaign over the course of the semester, the course will pay special attention to effects that university affiliation can have on different types of organizing or campaigning.
Taught By:
Rehana Odendaal
Education, Culture & Society and Sociology
University of Pennsylvania
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