Intellectual Vitality in the Classroom
Intellectual Vitality in the Classroom
Intellectual Vitality is working in close partnership with the Program in General Education and the College Writing Program to embed its values into key components of the Harvard College curriculum.
Current efforts include collaborations with a learning community of Writing Program preceptors, a cohort of Gen Ed teaching fellows, and individual Gen Ed faculty and course teams. Together, we’re identifying what already fosters deep engagement – and actively rethinking what doesn’t.
But meaningful change, growth, and culture shift can’t happen in isolation. That’s why we’re approaching this work comprehensively and collaboratively, drawing on insights and support from across the University, including partnerships with the Edmond & Lily Safra Center for Ethics and the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning.
For further information or for pedagogical support, please contact Matthew Sohm, Assistant Director of Civil Discourse and Classroom Culture at the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning (msohm@fas.harvard.edu).
During the 2024-2025 academic year, then Assistant Director of Pedagogy, Matthew Sohm (as of February 2025, Assistant Director of Civil Discourse and Classroom Culture, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning), collaborated with Expository Writing, the Program in General Education, the Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Ethics on various pedagogy workshops (linked below).
To kick off the spring semester, Intellectual Vitality (together with the Bok Center for Teaching and Learning and the Safra Center for Ethics) hosted the philosopher Jason Baehr (Loyola Marymount University). Jason’s pioneering work on teaching and learning for intellectual virtues like curiosity and epistemic humility has been central to the College’s approach to Intellectual Vitality and has informed the pedagogical methods that new and experienced instructors in Expository Writing and Gen Ed have been exploring.
Resources
Syllabus Templates
Intellectual Vitality has been partnering closely with the Program in General Education and the College Writing Program on fostering a classroom environment that remains open to, and respectful of, competing viewpoints and that seeks to avoid the premature formation of consensus. As part of this work, we have developed template syllabus language on topics including challenging subject matter, classroom neutrality, and policies addressing student concerns about doxxing and privacy. All of this is language is optional and can be used, adapted, and revised by instructors as they see fit.
Safra Center for Ethics Civil Discourse Pedagogy Resources
Bok Center for Teaching and Learning
