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Five Ideas for Incorporating Civil Discourse and Viewpoint Diversity into Your Curriculum

Students engaged in classroom discussion

There are several ways you can bring civil discourse and diverse viewpoints into your curriculum. We believe that a college education should promote tolerance across differences and deepen understanding. When students learn to speak freely and respectfully, they come to realize that conflicting viewpoints can widen understanding and deepen knowledge. Here are some of our top tips for promoting open, respectful, and curious conversations in your classroom:

1 - Include Unify America's Civic Gym Platform

The Unify Challenge College Bowl is a virtual intercollegiate event where thousands of students are paired into one-on-one conversations across differences. Students share their points of view, find common ground, and discover respectful conversation without conflict. Students gave the program an average rating of 8.9/10. Explore the Civic Gym here .

2 - Assign the Constructive Dialogue Institute's "Perspectives" Training

Perspectives is an evidence-based blended learning program that equips students with practical skills to engage in dialogue across lines of difference. Online lessons take approx. 30 minutes to complete. Over 80% of students report increased confidence navigating difficult conversations. Check out "Perspectives" training here .

3 - Design an Engaging Classroom Debate Assignment

Braver Angels, ACTA, and BridgeUSA have forged an acclaimed program that teaches students and faculty how to honor ideological diversity and foster civil discourse. Use their curricular toolkit to design student debates that are immersive and highly participatory. 20,000+ students have participated nationally. Learn more about Braver Angels programs in higher education here .

4 - Take a Look at the Best Practices Nationwide

Heterodox Academy has collected the best practices of faculty and staff in higher education seeking to incorporate activities, curricula, and guides for open inquiry and civil discourse in the classroom. Lots of free toolkits are available here , including a fun "Sensible vs. Ridiculous Ideas Classroom Activity" here .

5 - Check Out Speakers and Workshops at The Blue Ridge Center

Consider taking a look at The Blue Ridge Center at UVA's website for ideas in your classroom. The Blue Ridge Center believes that increasing viewpoint diversity means addressing gaps — gaps which arise from the courses that are not offered, the professors who are not teaching, the readings that are not assigned, and the questions that students are not asked to grapple with. Blue Ridge addresses these gaps through programming, hosting speakers and convening reading groups. More on The Blue Ridge Center here .

Please contact us with more ideas for faculty and staff to build greater discourse and viewpoint diversity into their curricula. We'd love to expand our menu of ideas.