PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Since 2020, faculty at Berkshire Community College (BCC) have been applying a program called The Pedagogy of Real Talk across the curriculum. 

 

To date, 11 BCC faculty members from a variety of disciplines have participated in the program.  

 

According to a press release, Real Talk focuses on creating a connection between faculty and students by getting to know the individual student. Real Talks create an opportunity to develop understanding, trust and empathy through open dialogue. 

 

The talks are supported by alternative lessons that help students connect to the material based on their own experiences.  

 

Goals of the program include:  

 

Statewide support  

 

The Real Talk program has recently expanded to include the support of the Massachusetts Association of Community Colleges (MACC) and Achieving the Dream (ATD), a non-governmental organization created to close achievement gaps in education across the nation. This partnership, together with initiatives created by the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (DHE), seeks to increase the success of its students, particularly students of color and those from underserved backgrounds.  

 

As part of the statewide initiative, a Faculty Academy has been created to train people in using Real Talk methods as well as examining and learning about good pedagogical techniques. The effect is centering equity. Participating institutions are divided into groups of four colleges, with up to 10 faculty members admitted to the Faculty Academy each year.  

 

Members of the Faculty Academy follow a three-year schedule of implementation that includes an annual four-day professional learning workshop, as well as a one-day retreat in January to learn and exchange ideas with other colleges. At each participating campus, faculty form communities of practice that meet monthly to talk about their Real Talks and alternative lessons.  

 

Real Talk Pedagogy was created by Paul Hernandez, author of The "Pedagogy of Real Talk: Engaging, Teaching and Connecting Students At-Promise." Dr. Hernandez is Senior Advisor to the President and CEO of Achieving the Dream.