On February 23, Grant Jackson, a professor at Texas Tech University, spoke at the Inspiring Teaching Series: Gospel Methodology in the Classroom sponsored by General Education. His topic was “In the Language of Scholarship and Spiritual Things: Striving to Be Bilingual in Our Efforts to Promote Belonging.” Jackson teaches a variety of subjects at Texas Tech University, including educational psychology, leadership, and counseling. During the workshop, he focused on intergroup dialogue and the effect it can have on belonging.
Much of Jackson’s research, including a dissertation, is focused on intergroup dialogue, which typically consists of a small group of students or participants who meet for two to three hours over multiple weeks. The participants engage in readings, activities, and exercises that promote dialogue on a variety of topics like race or religion, sometimes focusing on a specific topic and other times covering multiple topics in one series of sessions. This kind of dialogue differs from debate or discussion in that participants focus on sharing their lived experiences with the topic. Facilitators guide the participants through three phases:
- Developing relationships and exploring commonalities
- Exploring differences and engaging with controversial issues
- Solidifying intergroup relationships, understanding, and next steps
The intended outcomes for intergroup dialogue are intergroup understanding, intergroup relationships, and intergroup collaboration and action. During the seminar, Jackson also shared another positive outcome from participating in these group interactions. He participated in an intergroup dialogue at the University of Michigan, whose members had a wide variety of backgrounds and perspectives. At one point, late in their weekly sessions, most of the group members had tears in their eyes. Jackson realized they had experienced something that aligned with the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in the scriptures. This sparked his study of how intergroup dialogue relates to the scriptures.
At the teaching workshop, Jackson shared Romans 14:19, “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.” Jackson believes that holding effective intergroup dialogues can help fulfill this scripture, allowing members and facilitators to promote peace and benefit from listening to the experiences of others.
Leaders of Brigham Young University and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have recently placed emphasis on belonging, an initiative Jackson praised at the workshop. As a testament to this initiative, Jackson reminded faculty the scriptural call from Mosiah 18:21 to knit our hearts together has always been in place. He shared a quote from President Worthen, who said, referencing Spencer W. Kimball’s Second-Century Address, “His was not a call to flee with world, but to engage it on our own terms, with the goal of improving the world.” Rather than fleeing the world, Jackson recommended considering what we have to offer our brothers and sisters and what they have to offer us. He reminded those in attendance that Jesus Christ is at the heart of creating community here at BYU.
Review the presentation to learn how engaging in intergroup dialogue can help promote belonging at BYU.