On the course overall:
I loved this class. It excelled beyond my expectations. (24-25)
The instructors were amazing, kind and supportive. The assignments challenged me while allowing me to demonstrate my knowledge and understanding of course material. The instructors always maintained a welcoming, supportive and open classroom environment which fostered inclusive, honest and vulnerable class dialogue. There were no aspects of this course that had no value – I loved it all! (24-25)
Every part. Every story was worth being told, every reading was relevant, and every activity was well-planned and executed. I thoroughly appreciated this course and its leaders. (24-25)
Our dialogue and discussions about the readings were the most valuable for my learning but every aspect of the course was a valuable experience. I highly recommend this course to anyone not just for the content but for the way the class is structured. It helped to expand how I imagine learning can look like. (24-25)
the overall experience of IGD has changed the way I think about things as a member of society, for which I’m so grateful (24-25)
On the dialogue format and learning from and with peers:
To me the most valuable part was the discussion-based teaching because of how it really brings true experiences to the table as knowledge. (19-20)
The way that the class was structured into a discussion format instead of a traditional academic format. It really changed the comfort of everyone in a positive way. (21-22)
I believe the discussions were the most valuable part of my learning experience. I really took in what my peers shared, and it opened my mind to new perspectives I hadn’t even considered before. (24-25)
I am also thankful for all of the meaningful class discussions that we had. I learned so much from my peers, their experiences and their stories. I value each of their opinions and through our class dialogue, my own thoughts and opinions were challenged, supported and valued. (24-25)
Having real and meaningful dialogue with peers who also wanted to be there. So many ideas and perspectives were shared from people from different backgrounds and it was an all around fulfilling and enlightening experience. I will miss everyone from this course, including the facilitators. (24-25)
The class discussions were most valuable to my learning experience as were the projects. I appreciated the opportunity to learn from my peers and apply the ideas from class. This class is a great environment where I developed friendships and dialogue skills. I especially enjoyed the hot topics discussion because we really got to use our dialogue skills. I also like the gallery walks because they make it easier to engage with the materials. I also appreciated the grounding because it helped me to come into the class ready for dialogue. (24-25)
I enjoyed the creative aspects of the projects throughout the course. (24-25)
On learning from and with facilitators:
[The facilitators] are incredibly patient and understanding instructors who looked at points from all perspectives and challenged students to build dialogue that was effective and stimulating while creating a supportive environment. (20-21)
The teaching was quite literally out of this world. I have had many great teachers, none have taught with such depth, unity, vulnerability, and empathy. I felt safe enough to reach out to my facilitators and be honest with them. They were knowledgeable on so many topics, and that kind of information and insight was really helpful in expanding my dialogic skills and understanding of more complicated issues outside of class. (21-22)
Class discussions and the extent to which the facilitators were understanding and interested in our input. (24-25)
The understanding and consideration my instructors depicted throughout the semester was essential to me. They constantly made me feel like I was co-creating the space with them. (19-20)
The overall class structure and how [the facilitators] ran the class effortlessly! (24-25)
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Excerpts are from student feedback – from academic year as indicated