Discovery and innovation often begin with disagreement: questioning what is allows us to consider what could be. In academia, we inevitably encounter disagreements as students, instructors, researchers, and learners across the career span, and yet many of us lack the confidence and communication skills needed to disagree in the service of a shared goal. Disagreeing constructively is far more difficult than agreeing, and yet, ultimately, the personal and professional rewards may be greater. 

In this interactive workshop offered exclusively to HxA members, we will consider the benefits of paying more attention to how we agree and disagree in the contexts in which we work and  learn. We will explore the potential value of constructive disagreement in pushing the boundaries of what is known/accepted in a field, the tacit, culturally shaped assumptions that influence styles of disagreement, and practical strategies for helping our students as well as ourselves to disagree effectively. Attendees will leave with a shared vocabulary for understanding disagreement as a scholarly practice, strategies for framing it constructively in writing and discussion, and a brief action plan for applying these principles in their own research, teaching, and mentoring contexts.

The workshop is led by Prof. Jane Freeman, Director of the University of Toronto’s Graduate Centre for Academic Communication and by Dr. Kristina Quynn, founding Director of CSU Writes of the Office of the Vice President for Research at Colorado State University.

Space is limited. Register today to reserve your spot!