Many teachers have experienced the classroom equivalent of "never talk about politics or religion at the dinner table." These and other hot topics are easy to discuss when you're among those who agree with you, and much more difficult to talk about - civilly at least - with those who don't. 

A lack of confidence in their ability to simultaneously challenge and protect their students leads many teachers to avoid difficult and contentious topics in the classroom. But a far better response is for teachers and professors themselves to learn how to use these issues to engage their students in productive discussions that increase learning and bring people together in a spirit of inquiry and understanding.

The University of Alaska Anchorage and Alaska Pacific University have created a partnership to increase their faculties' skills at engaging in these "difficult dialogues," supported by a grant from the Ford Foundation's national Difficult Dialogues initiative. They have published a handbook for faculty members and other teachers telling their stories and detailing their experiences with a wide range of teaching strategies and classroom techniques. Start Talking tells the story of their partnership and presents many of their field-tested techniques. The book is arranged to follow the course of a five-day faculty intensive, with strategies, techniques, and reflections from thirty-five contributors. It is intended as a conversation-starter and field manual for professors and teachers who want to strengthen their teaching and engage their students more effectively in conversations about the most important issues of our times.