Teaching Innovation Conference: Contemplative Practice in Higher Education

Holistic inclusion calls for true inclusive practices within oneself before exploring inclusion within the learning community. At the winter 2021 Teaching Innovation Conference participants were invited to explore tools to co-create equitable, inclusive teaching practices by weaving contemplative pedagogy and interpersonal neurobiology frameworks into their courses.  As psychologist and author Tobin Hart states, “Inviting the contemplative simply includes the natural human capacity for knowing through silence, looking inward, pondering deeply, beholding, witnessing the contents of our consciousness…. These approaches cultivate an inner technology of knowing.” When we incorporate contemplative practices into our teaching we can encourage deep learning and focused attention within our students. 

The winter 2021 virtual teaching innovation conference offered participants time to engage in contemplative practice together, in small groups, and with various contemplative practitioners. Attendees left with practical ideas they could implement with their own students remotely. This conference was sponsored by the Certificate of Innovation in College Teaching, and is an introduction to a professional development series focused around contemplative pedagogy and interpersonal neurobiology.