It’s week six, and we find ourselves in the middle of the fall quarter already. In curriculum design, we pay a lot of attention to the beginnings and endings of programs and courses, and the middle can tend to be neglected. In my training as a contemplative educator, we used the Japanese principle of Jo-Ha-Kyu (序破急) to guide our thinking about the structure of an assignment, a course, a program, and an entire academic career. Jo-Ha-Kyu can be roughly translated as “beginning, middle, end,” but what the middle signifies differs a bit depending on the art form. In Japanese music “Ha” is “the scattering.” In Noh play structure, it is the part where the plot unfolds.
In terms of a course or program, the middle is often a point of intensity – everyone is past the introductory understanding of a topic or concept and preparing for the rush to the end of the quarter. Kind of like the apex of a rise on a roller coaster, just before you drop through a few spirals and loops back to the crowds waiting next in line.
In the midst of this intensity, it might be tricky to catch your breath and prepare for that final rush to the end. But taking that pause, however small, for yourself and for your students can be a critical component of self-care. The “ha” is an opportunity to connect where you have been to where you are headed next. Just a second of silence to take a breath and enjoy the view before that final plunge.
So, at this mid-point of the quarter, please take a moment for yourself. There are many troubling events taking place in the world around us, both near and far, that don’t pause to make room for teaching and learning to occur. Let’s share a little compassion with ourselves here in the middle so that we can continue to work in service of others.
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This year, we are adopting a new model for teaching support and enrichment sessions: LTC Salons. Salons, held Fridays 12:30-2:30pm, will be hosted by the Faculty Fellow as informal gatherings around a theme.
Each Salon topic will come with a digital resource packet – stop by any time during the event to pick up a hard copy and say hello. Stay for a while, if you like, to discuss the materials or bounce around your own issues and questions over tea and snacks. You’re welcome with whatever amount of time and engagement you have available that day.
Some Salons will repeat and others will be new each quarter, depending on interest, so if you miss one you hoped attend do let us know.
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Fridays 12:30-2:30pm
Week 6 - Responding to the World in the Classroom: Palestine, Israel, and Beyond (with Nancy Koppelman)
Week 8 - Strategies for Narrative Evaluations
Week 9 - Building Community in Virtual Spaces
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Meet our International Visiting Scholar |
Wajeehah Aayeshah |
The Washington Center is pleased to announce that we will be hosting an international visiting scholar January 14 - February 14.
Wajeehah Aayeshah (she/her) is a Lecturer in Curriculum Design at the Arts Teaching Innovation (ATI), University of Melbourne. An academic geek, she develops meaningful learning experiences and investigates co-creation of teaching and learning. Her research explores designing safe
pedagogical spaces that are inclusive, interesting, and kind. Her current project 'kindness in pedagogy' explores kind academic practices. These include engaging 'Students as Partners', ‘joyful teaching’, and creating ‘equity-driven academic culture’. She also collaborates with artists and game designers to produce creative narratives. Her interdisciplinary publications range from research articles, book chapters, to short stories and games.
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The Learning and Teaching Commons is currently seeking opportunities for Wajeehah to engage with our faculty, staff, and students. If you are interested in collaborating on a project or having Wajeehah visit your program, please contact learningandteaching@evergreen.edu. Our staff is coordinating an agenda for her visit and will provide additional details at the beginning of winter quarter.
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“Start Where You Are. Use What You Have. Do What You Can.” – Arthur Ashe
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1. Get to know yourself. Understand your own identities. Knowing our positionality can help increase understanding of our own experiences, perceptions, and biases which can lead to a greater sense of awareness and honest engagement with others. For more on social memberships, see Pam Hayes ADDRESSING framework https://division45.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/CulturalPsychology.pdf and Leticia Nieto’s identity development model https://beyondinclusionbeyondempowerment.com/about-the-book/
2. Practice mindfulness. Developing the muscles of awareness can allow us to increase our knowledge of internalized thoughts and behaviors. Through practice, these awareness skills may play a role in decreasing biases toward others and increasing attitudes of welcome and inclusivity. Mindfulness can also release stress that contributes to our sense of overwhelm, which does not leave room for us to meet our community members where they are at with mutual respect and care. We invite you to engage in our weekly awareness-building community of practice Mindful Mondays 12:15-12:45 by clicking on this zoom link https://evergreen.zoom.us/j/81316166182
3.Take care of yourself. As Audre Lorde so fiercely put it: "Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation and that is an act of political warfare." Although some would dismiss self-care as an individualistic practice that is reserved for only the privileged, we encourage self-care and well-being for everyone, realizing self-care is most crucial for communities who have not had the opportunity, resources, or encouragement to focus on their own well-being. This act of self-care can have collective reverberations: when we resource ourselves, we show up in a more healthy way for our communities. Start small and carve out breaks for yourself throughout the day or week to center your own well-being, whatever that looks like for you. Here are some self-care ideas to get you started: https://gdoc.io/planner-templates/self-care-wheel-free-google-docs-template/ and for more on the importance of self-care for our social justice movements https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/spring-2023/selfcare-in-the-movement
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As always, you are invited to connect and engage in our collective social justice work through our Social Justice Center programming and in our space in Evans Hall 2205. Everyone is welcome! Find more info on our webpage.
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As the quarter continues, the Writing Center is available to support students with essays and other writing projects for their programs and classes, as well as with self-evaluations, resumes and cover letters, scholarship and other application essays, creative writing, and more. Students can access writing tutoring in the following ways:
Visit or call (360-867-6420) the Writing Center in Library 2310 (on the Library’s main floor) during our open hours:
Mondays – Thursdays: 12pm-7pm | in-person OR online
Fridays and Sundays: 12pm-4pm | online only
Schedule an appointment through our WCOnline platform
Email us: WritingCenterStaff@evergreen.edu or ansley.clark@evergreen.edu
Additionally, please don't hesitate to reach out to schedule a Writing Center visit for your class or program, ask questions, voice comments and concerns, and request specific support. As I continue to get to know Evergreen's communities and learn how the Writing Center can best support them, I welcome feedback and look forward to getting to know faculty.
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These individuals and offices are eager to support students. Keep this list handy when advising students or reach out to schedule a visit to your program or course.
• The Greener Hub connects students in touch with the people, offices, and services they need.
• Visit the Daniel J. Evans Library page to learn about student access to electronic and print materials.
• Refer students to the Writing Center and the Quantitative & Symbolic Reasoning Center for tutoring support.
• TRiO provides wraparound services to first-generation, low income, and disabled students.
• Media Services offers equipment, instruction, and production services in audio, video, animation, film, and photography for students, faculty, and staff.
• The Title IX office is available to support us in our responsibilities as mandatory reporters. Review the Guide for Responsible Employees for more information.
• Connect your students with Advising and Career Services for support with academic planning and career exploration.
• Access Services for Students with Disabilities works with admitted Evergreen students to ensure equal access to academic programs and services.
• Submit your student concerns to the Campus Assessment, Response & Evaluation (CARE) Team. This cross-divisional team directs students towards supportive campus resources.
• The basic needs center provides resources for a variety of student needs.
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Accessing Higher Ground | Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference
November 6-10
→ learn more
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Gen Ed Reformers Anonymous Support Group | Awesome Gen Ed Ain’t Free: A Discussion About Finding, Landing, and Leveraging Grants and Other Revenue Sources
November 7 3:00pm EST
→ Register Now
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Accessibility Considerations in Open Education, Co-hosted by WCET
November 16 11:00am PST
→ learn more
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AGLS November Live Chat | Scholarly opportunities with the Journal of General Education
November 27 2:00pm EST
→ Register Now
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Call for articles: Humanizing Higher Education
Abstracts due December 1st → learn more
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NY Times now available through the library!
Access is available to all students and employees
→ Get Access Now
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There are many opportunities for faculty to share their achievements, and we want to encourage you to contribute to the wealth of knowledge in our Evergreen community. Explore the options below for highlighting your work.
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Faculty Notes
Submit a Faculty Note.
Library Institutional Repository
Please submit any publications, learning resources, or other materials that you would like to share and contact archives@evergreen.edu with any questions or feedback.
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Real Evergreen: An Educator’s Handbook
For details or to submit a contribution, contact Joli Sandoz.
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