Unanswered Questions, Active Minds: The Power of ‘Doing’ in Introductory Sociology
Learn from the authors of Sociology: Thinking Beyond the Book as we explore ways to bridge the gap between foundational knowledge and ‘doing’ to deepen student engagement in introductory sociology
Unanswered Questions, Active Minds: The Power of ‘Doing’ in Introductory Sociology
Join the authors of Sociology: Thinking Beyond the Book as we explore ways to bridge the gap between foundational knowledge and ‘doing’ to deepen student engagement in introductory sociology.
When it comes to introductory sociology, building foundational knowledge is standard practice. The more meaningful challenge is developing student imagination about the real-world value and utility of the discipline. For award-winning educators and authors, Dr. Robert Brym and Dr. Mellisa Holtzman, that starts by inviting students to actually ‘do’ sociology.
In this presentation, Brym and Holtzman explore the power of individual experience as a springboard for relating to—and understanding—sociological concepts. They share how unanswered questions and contradictory theories in sociology can be used to pique curiosity and help students develop essential skills like critical thinking, data collection, theory testing and more. You will also see how their unique approach to getting students to apply sociological theory and methods comes together in their brand new, interactive etext, Sociology: Think Outside the Book.
Watch the Recording
Watch Now to Learn
- The role of unresolved questions and contradictory theory in animating student interest
- Strategies for combating apathy by inspiring meaningful, application-based learning
- Bridging the gap between foundational knowledge and ‘doing’ sociology, in and out of class
- Ways to activate ‘sociological imagination’ to hone analysis, critical thinking, and debating skills
About the Book
Sociology: Think Outside the Book is designed to help students understand how to do sociology—from developing their sociological imaginations and recognizing the dynamic nature of theory testing, to applying strategies in real life. With diverse perspectives integral to the text, students are invited to broaden their thinking and test their understanding through dynamic, integrated auto-graded assessments.
About the Authors
Robert Brym is Professor of Sociology at the University of Toronto and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. A political sociologist, he has conducted research and published widely on Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Tunisia, and Canada. He has been teaching Introductory Sociology since the beginning of his career and has received numerous awards, including the British Journal of Sociology Prize and the President's Teaching Award, the top teaching honor at the University of Toronto. Brym is also the author of Top Hat’s (formerly Nelson) New Society and Society in Question introductory sociology textbooks.
Mellisa Holtzman is Professor of Sociology at Ball State University in Indiana. She has expertise in gender, family, and sexual violence prevention. In addition to publishing extensively in those areas, she also has a strong research and publication record in the scholarship of teaching and learning. Holtzman has been teaching Introductory Sociology for more than 20 years and has received numerous teaching awards, including the North Central Sociological Association’s John F. Schnabel Distinguished Contributions to Teaching Award and Ball State University’s Outstanding Teaching Award, the school’s top teaching honor.