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firstpublics.bsky.social
First Publics
@firstpublics.bsky.social
190 followers 640 following 180 posts
First Publics provides a space to explore the politics, pedagogy, and practice of teaching as public sociology.

Website: https://thesocietypages.org/firstpublics/
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firstpublics.bsky.social
On November 6, 2025 from Noon-1:30 EST, First Publics will host a conversation exploring why and how teaching research methods matters, not only for scholarship, but also for critical thinking and public engagement in light of the contemporary polycrisis.

Register here: buff.ly/rWfrkxE
October 23, 2025 at 1:11 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
First Publics Co-editor, Sarah Shannon, reflects on the past two years of First Publics and discusses our plan for the future, including the introduction of our new advisory board!

See it here: buff.ly/Lc9gczC
October 22, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Check out this new Reflection on our site, "Teaching Consent Before Content," By Joey Bernert!
Link: buff.ly/rvjwIfL
October 16, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Looking for a guide to teaching theory? See @mestefan.bsky.social's newest Reflection with First Publics, where he introduces 7 principles that you can adopt in any classroom.
October 3, 2025 at 7:00 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Check out this new Reflection on teaching environmental justice cross-nationally. Ahmed explores the differences in contexts and how this has informed his approach to teaching students, our first publics.
buff.ly/UdNFnM7
August 19, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
WE’RE HERE at #ASA2025!!
We want to talk with you about your teaching!
Drop into our editorial assistant’s (@slhknapp.bsky.social) informal meeting window at the Hyatt (Sat 11:30-12:30) or email/DM us to set up a time to talk!
August 8, 2025 at 11:46 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Throwback... Tuesday?
As Fall 25 prep gets underway, see Megan Phillips' Class Note on how to incorporate borrow activities into your classes!
buff.ly/vtkspX5
July 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Johnnie Lotesta shared with First Publics her reflections on the problem-solving potential of sociology and how she models this for students in the classroom. See it here: buff.ly/wf9Hu9m
July 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
What advice would you give sociology teachers? Join the conversation with sociology graduate students who answered the question in this recent @teachingsociology.bsky.social article by Sanchez and Gilbertson.
buff.ly/pWyK6WV
July 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Join Jonathan Wynn in a Reflection on "Teaching the Sociological Multiverse", published as part of our Teaching Theory series this past year. buff.ly/Q0gYKn5
July 1, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
In this @firstpublics.bsky.social Reflection from March of 2024, Doug Hartmann discusses dis philosophy on teaching Introductory Sociology courses!

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
A quote from the article stating “Perhaps the basic lesson for me is that as much as the world around us develops and evolves, and our teaching and pedagogy along with it, there is also a lot about teaching and learning that remains the same.” with an illustration of a globe in the background
May 1, 2025 at 2:55 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
In this Class Note from September, Kirsten Vinyeta discusses how to develop a community-based research project for your students that benefits them and their learning, your community partners, and you as a researcher!

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
A quote from the article stating "By the end of the semester, students were CITI certified and had experience with 1) carrying out a semi-structured interview, 2) transcribing and editing, 3) coding qualitative data, 4) writing a qualitative research paper, and 5) presenting findings to state and local agencies. Meanwhile, with the assistance of my students, I collected data that I will use in subsequent reports and publications. Finally, our partnering agencies received data that will help them refine their water conservation and LCIP rollout efforts. This is why I like to think of community-engaged learning as a triple win: a win for students, for faculty, and for the community." alongside a picture of the author: a woman with short blonde hair in a plaid shirt
April 29, 2025 at 5:35 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Check out this excellent Reflection from Calvin John Smiley on working with incarcerated youth in New York City!

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
Text from the article that reads "The main concern is that I am not a cop. In this space, my approach could not simply be dismissive of this concern but rather reassuring them by giving a level of transparency about myself, the work that I do, and my opinions on the criminal justice system. For many, their entire world has been policed, even beyond traditional law enforcement contact. Creating a space that allows for open discussion is a tactic I have used to earn trust. – Calvin John Smiley"
April 24, 2025 at 8:02 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
@kylie-m-smith.bsky.social discusses how and why she teaches the hidden curriculum in her courses in this class note from August!

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
A quote from the article stating "Discussing the hidden curriculum does not, of course, mitigate the effects of the social inequalities that make its discussion important in the first place. Students come into the classroom with different levels of cultural capital, and this exercise does not and could not make everything equal between all students. However, I think that it is an important first step in helping students who don’t already have this particular knowledge by giving them new tools to succeed in my class and throughout the rest of their time in college." and a picture of the author -- a white woman with dark blonde hair in a black shirt.
April 22, 2025 at 2:50 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
🚨 New Reflection Out Now! 🚨 Check out Johnnie Lotesta's new Reflection for @firstpublics.bsky.social -- "Apathy to Engagement: Sociology’s Problem-Solving Potential"

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
A quote from the article stating “Burawoy’s call to teaching as public sociology is imperative as a means for addressing the recurrent tension between political engagement and political apathy among young people today. For almost a decade, we have seen expanding waves of youth protest and direct-action led, in notable instances, by students. But at the same time, we see exhaustion and apathy.” as well as a photo of the author, a white woman with brown hair in a white shirt.
April 18, 2025 at 3:50 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
This Teaching Sociology article by Michael C. Lotspeich-Yadao and colleagues demonstrates the benefits of experiential learning for students interested in health careers.

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
April 16, 2025 at 7:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
In this @firstpublics.bsky.social from December of 2023, Ellen T. Meiser discusses some ways to make service learning more public and creative!

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
Text that reads "“We can do service-learning, public sociology, and impart saleable skills all at the same time in a meaningful way in our classrooms– meaningful to our students, to our local communities, and to ourselves. We just need to be creative.” on a light blue background with graphics of a notebook, classroom desk, laptop, and paint palette on the righthand side.
April 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Many sociology instructors use podcasts in their courses, but how can we ensure that students are getting their full benefit? Read this Teaching Sociology article to find out more!

journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....
The masthead for the journal "Teaching Sociology"
April 9, 2025 at 4:30 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Check out this @firstpublics.bsky.social by @rajghoshal.bsky.social on the importance of teaching students how to engage in the political systems that surround them through calling elected officials!
A quote from the article stating "Helping students practice civic engagement is important because it addresses a too-frequent blind spot in our pedagogy: we assume that students who learn about problems will be inspired to act and know how to act on them." alongside a picture of the author, a dark haired man with a beard in a purple shirt and tie.
April 8, 2025 at 6:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Are you interested in writing for us? We're always looking for new articles on teaching as public sociology! Check out how to submit at the link below!

buff.ly/3AQkCpy
A cartoon graphic of a pencil and notebook with a light bulb slightly above it.
April 4, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
🚨 New Reflection Out Now! 🚨 Check out this piece by Alyssa Lyons on @firstpublics.bsky.social : Fearing the Future: Reconsidering the Role of AI

thesocietypages.org/firstpublics...
A photo of the author with a quote from her article stating "In essence, my desire is to critically engage with AI in the classroom to increase my students’ prospects in this world that they need to survive in. One of the most persistent and pervasive questions for me has been: how is the proliferation of generative artificial intelligence going to impact my pedagogy and curriculum? Most importantly, how is this going to impact my students?"
March 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
This article by García-Albacete and Hoskins (2024) examines the effect of higher education on political self-efficacy. The article suggests that some teaching methods may widen the gender gap in political self-efficacy.

academic.oup.com/sf/article/1...
A photo of the March 2025 issue of the journal "Social Forces"
March 24, 2025 at 1:50 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
Read this excellent article about teaching sociological theory by Dr. Seth. Abrutyn published with @firstpublics.bsky.social!

buff.ly/QButLw7
A quote from the article that states "Two people fall in love and get married. What happens when they have a child? A second child? A third child? A parent comes to live with them? What are the challenges they face with growth in “population” and diversity? Where do the necessary resources come from? Who decides who gets what and how much? These are fundamental sociological questions that classical theorists and contemporary theorists continue to ask and answer, even if they often focus on “societies” or “organizations” and not the immediate social worlds we all are familiar with." There is also a photo of the author, a man in a green with a short brown beard smiling.
March 21, 2025 at 1:50 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
How should we teach in times of uncertainty? Read this excellent @firstpublics.bsky.social reflection by Dr. Jeff Shelton at the link below!

buff.ly/3MnTDH4
A quote from the article that states “I always tell my students that my classroom is a place to discuss various social topics that they may not otherwise discuss and delve into how we can use the science of sociology to understand them, including how to interpret the onslaught of information from news outlets, social media, and other sources of information. I view teaching an Intro to Sociology class as an opportunity to help students engage with society by providing sociology’s language, theories, and applications and encouraging them to use these tools in their daily lives.”
March 18, 2025 at 8:15 PM
firstpublics.bsky.social
How do we become sociologists? Read this excellent @firstpublics.bsky.social article by Dr. Taura Taylor from last January about the sociological character arc!

buff.ly/U0T46Hl
A quote from the article that states "There is a symbiotic relationship between theory and praxis, and I encourage you to realize the serviceable relationship between the desires of your heart and the opportunities to transform conventions, knowledge, and social realities". There is also a black-and-white photo of the author, a Black woman wearing glasses and smiling.
March 13, 2025 at 3:05 PM