Building Course Community

Within a class of over 170 students, how do you build rapport outside of section? During the spring semester, students from Faculty Director Sue J. Goldie’s popular Harvard College course, SW24: Is Globalization Good or Bad for World Health?, visited the Incubator for a series of three open houses.

Designed as an open forum, the sessions introduced students to the Incubator’s ongoing work to support deliberate, innovative educational activities—like SW24. Students joined tours of the Incubator, exploring the multimedia galleries of creative global health projects and venturing into the studio to see where educational pilots are pulled together.

The open houses cultivated a deeper sense of community. Dr. Goldie spoke candidly about her own journey into medicine and public health, sharing anecdotes on how she navigated tricky personal and professional decisions. Students swapped stories about their semesters, reflecting on strategies for balancing studies and self-care.

“Once you’ve taken SW24, you’re part of the family,” said Dr. Goldie. “Don’t be a stranger after graduation!”