SURE

Sunderland Repository records the research produced by the University of Sunderland including practice-based research and theses.

'You don't get taught that' – How ‘safe’ classrooms can hinder learning.

Williams, Helen and Quaid, Sheila (2023) 'You don't get taught that' – How ‘safe’ classrooms can hinder learning. Teaching in Higher Education. ISSN 1470-1294

Item Type: Article

Abstract

It is often asserted that to facilitate student engagement, encourage participation and create optimal learning environments, the classroom should be a safe space. In this paper we explore the idea that ‘safety’ is at odds with the very nature of academic enquiry. Using data from a qualitative study with staff at a UK University, we illustrate how the expectation of safety is troublesome and works to inhibit learning, particularly in the social sciences which explore difficult and sensitive subject matter. The responsibility for creation and maintenance of safe classrooms is often presumed to lie with teaching staff, and the impact of this is under researched. We consider alternative constructions of the classroom space and ways forward which can potentially support tutors with the challenges of teaching difficult topics. We ultimately advocate for approaches that position students as partners and the creation of learning spaces where differences can co-exist.

[img]
Preview
PDF
Safe Space Accepted.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (291kB) | Preview

More Information

Uncontrolled Keywords: Safe space, brave, space learning, teaching, discomfort
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Helen Williams

Identifiers

Item ID: 15886
Identification Number: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2023.2201675
ISSN: 1470-1294
URI: http://sure.sunderland.ac.uk/id/eprint/15886
Official URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/135625...

Users with ORCIDS

ORCID for Helen Williams: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-4980-0853
ORCID for Sheila Quaid: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5218-7135

Catalogue record

Date Deposited: 27 Apr 2023 13:16
Last Modified: 01 Oct 2024 02:38

Contributors

Author: Helen Williams ORCID iD
Author: Sheila Quaid ORCID iD

University Divisions

Faculty of Education and Society > School of Social Sciences

Subjects

Education > Higher Education
Social Sciences > Sociology
Education
Social Sciences

Actions (login required)

View Item (Repository Staff Only) View Item (Repository Staff Only)

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

Loading...