Bringing the Facts to Life

MUCH WORK HAS BEEN DONE on the value of using varied pedagogies in response to what is now widely accepted as diverse ways of (Chickering and Gamson 1994:259) and intelligences (Gardner 1983; 1999). In particular, signifi cant research has been done establishing the effectiveness of active learning in increasing student understanding and critical thinking skills, as well as improving attitudes toward courses and fellow classmates (Zipp 2002). Less discussed and even less appreciated (Dressel and Marcus 1994) has been what I would call emotionally engaged education: teaching that intentionally integrates cogni tive learning with students' affective lives (Paul 1999). This kind of pedagogy can leave a long lasting, even transformative impression on students that outlives the de tails of course content. Effective teaching then, often involves at least three compo nents: (1) a variety of pedagogies which address multiple learning styles, (2) inten tional engagement of emotions, and (3) real or realistic situations. These elements can be especially useful when teaching about sensitive subjects. The use and management of emotions in teach ing and learning about sensitive topics is essential due to the powerful feelings stu dents often bring to these subjects, which often involve previously unexamined values and beliefs that once brought to the surface, can be personally upsetting (De Welde and Hubbard 2003; Roberts and Smith 2002). Partly for that reason, diversity and multi cultural educational pedagogies often in clude three levels of learning: cognitive, behavioral, and most important for this pa per, affective (Junn 1994). Domestic vio lence is one such sensitive topic. Because I want students to truly engage with the subject of domestic violence, I find it essential to integrate a number of care fully selected teaching elements, pushing students beyond cold and statistics, and even beyond the models and paradigms included in most text books. In order to enable real life engagement with a compli cated and disturbing subject, I utilize not only traditional readings, films, and guest speakers, but also courtroom observations of domestic violence cases. Afterward, stu dents must face the reality that brutal vio lence really goes on in homes, and they can no longer claim that they do not understand why battered women often stay with their abusive partners. They actually see and hear these very people struggling with the com plexities of domestic violence in their lives in a way that bring the facts to life.