Expert Talk: Teaching for Thinking. „Genre“ and STEM subjects

In her talk, Dr Sarah Creider (Teachers College, Columbia University) suggests that "genre" can be a useful tool for understanding, analysing, and teaching the many texts that make up our lives – from math worksheets to lab reports, and from professional emails to WhatsApp messages among friends. 

Focusing on genre analysis in STEM classrooms, Creider will discuss using genre to explore often unexamined topics, including what we mean by "good" writing; the relationship between author and audience; and who has the power to break genre conventions. Using real-life examples from mathematics and science classes, she will also offer practical tools for working with struggling students, and for using genre analysis to create classrooms where linguistic and cultural diversity are seen as a gift rather than as a burden. 

The talk will end with an open discussion of teaching for thinking in the STEM classroom, as we explore how genre awareness can help prepare our students for a transnational, computer-mediated world where the human skills of connection and creativity are more important than ever.