Methods and Challenges in Teaching Political Theory

14 May 2024 · Online

The Teaching Political Theory Network (TPTN) and UCL’s Centre for the Pedagogy of Politics (CPP) co-hosted this 90 minute online panel on Methods and Challenges in Teaching Political Theory.

The event featured three contributions addressing different aspects of teaching political theory, including questions around the political theory canon, the importance of teaching within the discipline, and approaches to improving student engagement.

Panellists and contributions

• Diana Popescu-Sarry, University of Nottingham

  The least we can do: trigger warnings and teaching the political theory canon

• Matthias Heil, Ruprecht Karls University Heidelberg

  Taking teaching seriously

• Ruairidh Brown, Forward College, Lisbon

  Dramatic Encounters: Overcoming the barriers to the study of Political Theory for first-generational students using a drama based Pedagogy

The presentations were followed by audience Q&A. The event was aimed at political theorists interested in pedagogical scholarship, as well as educators seeking practical insights for their own teaching.

The panel followed the inaugural conference of the Teaching Political Theory Network, held at the University of York in June 2023. Contributions from both events were intended to form the basis of an edited volume on Methods and Challenges in Teaching Political Theory.

Related reflection

Following the panel, Ruairidh Brown contributed a guest post to the Active Learning in Political Science (ALPS) blog titled “Rousseau in the Gallowgate: Using drama-based pedagogies with first-generational political theory students” (7 June 2024). The article offers further reflections on using drama to make political theory more accessible to first-generation students.