Section outline

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    • Attend a Recovery Meeting (No Written Submission Required) Assignment

      Some time during the course, attend one open recovery meeting of your choice. This can be Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), Narcotics Anonymous (NA), SMART Recovery, Refuge Recovery, Dharma Recovery, or any other open mutual aid, 12-step, or peer support group related to substance use disorder. You're welcome to attend in-person or virtually, whatever feels safe, accessible, and comfortable for you.

      This isn't about analyzing or critiquing the model. The goal is to witness, reflect, and develop your felt sense of what recovery may look or sound like outside of the classroom or the clinic. You will be invited to share a few takeaways in class in an informal way, but there will be no formal written assignment attached to this, though you may include aspects of it in other assignments.

      Note: If you regularly attend any of these meetings for yourself, I encourage you to attend something different to have a novel experience.

      Extra Note: Please make sure the meeting is open to individuals who don't necessarily identify with the specific population. Attend with respect, confidentiality, and curiosity. If you're unsure how to find a meeting, or want help choosing one, I'm happy to assist.

    • Facilitated Class Process & Discussion (No Written Submission Required) Assignment

      This assignment will be ongoing throughout the course, in small groups or dyads, with sign-ups happening during our first class.

      Each student will co-facilitate a segment of class discussion (either in a dyad or small group) on a date and topic of your choosing. This is not a formal presentation or a lecture. Your role is to create and guide a grounded, thoughtful conversation that helps the group reflect more deeply on the day's readings, themes, and questions. You will be expected to have read the optional readings for your presentation week.

      You're welcome to use your own style here. You may use a powerpoint, structured prompts, small group breakouts, experiential exercises, or a strong centering question. What matters most is that you bring presence, clarity, and leadership. This is a practice in facilitating meaning-making, not performing mastery.

      We'll walk through expectations together on Day 1, and I'll be available if you want to bounce around ideas ahead of your facilitation date.

      Criteria Excellent (5) Good (3-4) Needs Improvement (1-2)
      Clarity & Presence Demonstrates a strong presence; offers a clear structure and guides the group with confidence and intention. Generally clear and engaged. Appears unprepared, unfocused; lacks cohesion or direction
      Engagement with Content Clearly integrates readings, course themes, or key questions to spark reflection and insight. References course material, but links may be superficial or underdeveloped. Little or no engagement with course content; discussion feels off-topic or shallow.
      Facilitation & Inclusion Actively fosters participation and draws in a range of voices; manages time and energy well Involves the group, but may lean to heavily on instructor or group members. Disconnected from group process.
      Flexibility & Responsiveness Adapts organically to group energy, questions, and spontaneity; maintains flow. Generally responsive, but may miss cues or over-rely on a fixed structure. Rigid or disengaged; doesn't attend to group dynamics in real-time.