Cultivating citizenship skills through teaching and learning in the humanities

TitleCultivating citizenship skills through teaching and learning in the humanities
Faculty/College/UnitArts
StatusCompleted
Duration2 Year
Initiation04/01/2015
Completion03/31/2017
Funding Details
Year 1: Project YearYear 1
Year 1: Funding Year2015/2016
Year 1: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 1: Principal InvestigatorMichael Griffin
Year 1: Funded Amount5,670
Year 1: Team Members

Michael Griffin, Assistant Professor, Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies and Philosophy, Faculty of Arts
Marlise Hofer, MA Candidate, Psychology, Faculty of Arts

Year 1: Summary

Policymakers and students both describe “citizenship skills” as desirable learning outcomes and graduate attributes in higher education (UBC 2009, Banks 2007, Sax 2004). This project aims to identify methods of teaching and learning within the humanities that are correlated with a positive increase in citizenship skills, using validated psychological measures of perspective-taking, empathy, interpersonal and intercultural fluency, and tolerance of ambiguity (outlined below). We aim to test the hypothesis that the rigorous and charitable study of literature and philosophy drawn from diverse cultural traditions positively influence traits perceived to be conducive to good citizenship (cf. Kidd & Castano 2013); if true, we aim to identify content and pedagogical perspectives and practices that are correlated with this influence, to modify the pilot courses (enrolling approximately 560 students) in year 2, and to disseminate these results within and beyond the university community.

Year 1: TLEF ShowcaseYear 1: TLEF Showcase
Year 2: Project YearYear 2
Year 2: Funding Year2016/2017
Year 2: Project TypeSmall TLEF
Year 2: Principal InvestigatorMichael Griffin
Year 2: Funded Amount9,038
Year 2: Team Members

Michael Griffin, Assistant Professor, Classical, Near Eastern and Religious Studies and Philosophy, Faculty of Arts
Marlise Hofer, MA Candidate, Psychology, Faculty of Arts

Year 2: Summary

Policymakers and students both describe “citizenship skills” as desirable learning outcomes and graduate attributes in higher education (UBC 2009, Banks 2007, Sax 2004). This project aims to identify methods of teaching and learning within the humanities that are correlated with a positive increase in citizenship skills, using validated psychological measures of perspective-taking, empathy, interpersonal and intercultural fluency, and tolerance of other’s values (outlined below). We aim to test the hypothesis that the rigorous and charitable study of literature and philosophy drawn from diverse cultural traditions positively influence traits perceived to be conducive to good citizenship (cf. Kidd & Castano 2013); if true, we aim to identify content and pedagogical perspectives and practices that are correlated with citizenship skills by creating pilot courses on several hundred students in year one, adapting and expanding in year two, and to disseminating these results within and beyond the university community.

Project Report2016-TLEF-SP-Final-Report-Griffin-WEB.pdf