teachins

Teach-ins are extended educational gatherings designed to explore political or social issues through a combination of lectures, panel discussions, films, and audience participation. They are typically open to the public and organized by students, faculty, or community groups, and may last several hours or days. The format emphasizes public education, multiple perspectives, and active engagement, rather than a traditional course structure.

The practice arose in the United States during the 1960s as part of campus activism surrounding the Vietnam War. The term is commonly linked to student organizers who sought to supplement conventional curricula with in-depth, participatory discussions on war and related topics. Early high-profile events occurred at universities such as the University of Michigan and the University of California, Berkeley, during 1965–1966, and the model quickly spread to other campuses.

Typical features include free or low-cost admission, a multi-speaker program, opportunities for Q&A and small-group discussion, and a focus on informing and mobilizing participants for social or political action. Teach-ins have been used to address a range of issues beyond war, including civil rights, labor, environment, and international affairs.

Impact and legacy vary by context, but teach-ins helped shape public discourse, foster civic participation, and influence later forms of public pedagogy and community education. While less common today as a distinct term, the concept persists in issue-based lectures and forums that emphasize participatory learning and activism.