Ryan J. Johnson, an associate professor of philosophy, shares his teaching approach of philosophy which occurs mostly outside and describes it as an experiment in improvisation. He also discusses his current book project on the radical abolitionist John Brown and mentions three things he loves: John Coltrane, jazz, and walking with his wife in cities.
Ryan Johnson shares about teaching philosophy outside on episode 480 of the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast
Quotes from the episode
What are the dominant sounds on campus? What are the kind of patterns at which people move? What are the movement of the trees versus the light versus the animals versus people?
-Ryan Johnson
The relationship between the teacher and a student is not intelligence to intelligence, but instead will to will.
-Ryan Johnson
A good distraction is one that can help us come back together, that can allow our attention or our stamina to have a release to return.
-Ryan Johnson
I cultivate brave spaces, not safe spaces.
-Ryan Johnson
I started to notice all these things about campus that one does not as they move through, rather than sits in and resonates with, especially the sounds.
-Ryan Johnson