Kansas State University

Gender, women, and sexuality department head authors book

Submitted by Marion Schweitzer

Christie Launius, associate professor and head of the gender, women, and sexuality studies department, along with Susan Rensing, teaching associate professor in gender women, and sexuality studies, and Holly Hassel, professor of English at North Dakota State University, recently published "A Guide to Teaching Introductory Women's and Gender Studies: Socially Engaged Classrooms."

Based on the findings of a scholarship of teaching and learning project that analyzed 72 intro students' written work, the book provides a practical, evidence-based guide to teaching introductory Women's and Gender Studies courses. The authors equip instructors with key principles that can help them adapt their pedagogy to a range of classroom environments. 

The book also draws on the authors' combined decades of teaching experience and aims to help instructors anticipate the emotional, intellectual and interpersonal challenges and rewards of teaching and learning in the introductory WGS course. Chapters focus on course design, including identifying desired learning outcomes — in terms of course content, skills, and dispositions or habits of mind; choosing course materials; pedagogical activities; and assessing student learning.