The Gatherings, Collective Lectures, and Share-Outs, together bundled under the umbrella of The Confabs, are iterations of professional development opportunities where faculty share their work, approaches, methods, teaching philosophies, and, often, how all those areas interact.
Several versions/iterations of these Confabs have taken place. They have happened at different locations—on campus at Pratt, online, and in various Brooklyn neighborhoods—and have taken on different shapes and forms. During the inaugural PIC Week, in spring 2019, faculty opened their classrooms in the last couple of weeks of the semester to allow other faculty and students to see and engage, leading to impromptu gatherings and discussions. Another iteration focused on faculty’s creative practice, with multiple lectures planned through AY 2019–2020 (unfortunately interrupted in March by the pandemic). A more recent iteration took place in fall 2024, and consisted of a day-long affair with faculty sharing their work.
Collectively, the Confabs have been immersive experiences in reflective connectivities. They have meant to serve as: a/an opportunity for faculty development through interaction with peers and reflection on their practice; b/an opportunity to consider connections between fields faculty are involved in and their work in integrative teaching/learning and interdisciplinary practice; c/a truly non-pressurized environment in which faculty and participants are freed from all agendas and responsibilities in order to immerse themselves in thinking/making that goes in any direction; d/a show of gratitude and appreciation to faculty. Overall, these components of the Confabs add another dimension to the Center’s efforts by providing a space for exploring creative thinking and practice.