Brene Brown's presentation, titled 'Daring Greatly in the Classroom,' begins with her expressing her excitement about speaking to educators at South by Southwest. She humorously recounts a recent traffic stop on her way to the event, where she was pulled over without a driver's license. She sets the stage for her talk by discussing her research on courage, vulnerability, and the belief that these qualities can be taught and developed, particularly in educational settings.
Brown emphasizes that courage involves showing up and being seen, even when the outcome is uncertain. Drawing from her extensive research, she identifies four key skill sets for building courage: vulnerability, clarity of values, trust, and resilience. She highlights the importance of resilience in getting back up after experiencing setbacks and failures, emphasizing that courage often involves falling down but having the strength to rise again.
The core of Brown's presentation focuses on vulnerability and its connection to courage. She challenges the notion that vulnerability is weakness, asserting that it is a necessary component of courage. Brown explains how vulnerability is at the center of both negative emotions like shame and fear and positive emotions like love, belonging, and joy. She also explores the impact of shame in educational settings, emphasizing the need to create shame-resilient classrooms where students can shed their emotional armor and truly engage in learning. Brown concludes by stressing the importance of empathy in combating shame and fostering a brave and compassionate educational environment.
In summary, Brene Brown's presentation at South by Southwest delves into the relationship between vulnerability, courage, and shame in educational settings. She argues that educators have the power to create shame-resilient classrooms where students can embrace vulnerability and engage in transformative learning experiences. Brown's insights and research provide valuable guidance for educators seeking to make a positive impact on their students' lives.
Questions for reflection and discussion for teachers:
How does Brene Brown's message about vulnerability and courage resonate with your experiences in the classroom? Can you recall specific instances where embracing vulnerability led to positive outcomes in your teaching or student interactions?
Brown mentions that vulnerability is often perceived as weakness. How have you seen this perception manifest in your school or classroom, and how can you challenge it to create a more inclusive and open learning environment?
Brown emphasizes the importance of empathy in combating shame and fostering connection. What strategies have you used to cultivate empathy among your students? How can you further integrate empathy into your teaching practices?
Reflect on the four shame shields: moving away, moving toward, and moving against. Can you identify which shield(s) you or your students tend to use when feeling shame? How might recognizing and addressing these behaviors improve the classroom dynamic?
Brown discusses the power of perspective taking. How can you enhance your ability to understand and appreciate the perspectives of your students, especially those from diverse backgrounds or experiences?
Think about the concept of shame resilience. Are there specific incidents or patterns of shame in your classroom or school environment that you can address to promote resilience among your students and colleagues?
Consider the idea that teachers play a pivotal role in either reinforcing or dismantling shame in students' lives. What steps can you take to create a shame-resilient classroom where students feel safe to be themselves, take risks, and learn from their mistakes?
Quote - Vulnerability is about showing up and being seen. Its tough to do that when were terrified about what people might see or think. - Brene Brown (By A. D. - Marist Laity - from AUSTRALIA - 2023-9-22)
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