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Removing Barriers to Student Learning: Inclusive Syllabi and Assignments

Inclusive pedagogy is not about lowering expectations or watering down content. It is about removing the barriers we did not know existed.  Overview Despite our best intentions to create an inclusive classroom, many barriers to learning exist in the course materials themselves. Syllabi and assignments can perpetuate broader societal biases and oppressive practices, from the subtext of the syllabus to the methods of measuring student progress. Creating a more purposeful, intentional curriculum that addresses equity and inclusion across disciplines—without compromising content—requires a close examination of your own materials and a set of new teaching strategies.  Join us for an interactive virtual workshop in which you will examine your course materials and explore answers to these questions:  What are the unwritten implicit rules, norms, messages, and hidden biases about students that I communicate through the subtext of a syllabus?  What are the principles to keep in mind when constructing inclusive assignments for assessing student progress?   How should students be asked to demonstrate their learning through formative and summative assessment?  You will walk away with practical worksheets you can use to review your course materials. Please bring a syllabus and assignment to the workshop so you can apply the concepts and strategies to your own classroom context, make changes in the moment, and receive feedback.    Who Should Attend This hands-on virtual workshop is ideal for faculty, […]

Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Engaging in Dialogue About Race and Bias

Gain confidence in entering conversations about race and inequity. Overview Feelings of defensiveness and discomfort are common when engaging in conversations around race and bias. Even those who have done extensive reading on these emotionally-charged topics can find themselves fumbling if they haven’t yet reflected on how their own identities and biases impact the way they show up in the world—and in these difficult conversations. To get more comfortable engaging in these dialogues, we must first lean into the discomfort of individual reflection and actions that prepare us to enter them in an open and effective way. Join us for a two-hour virtual training where we will explore four key concepts and how they come into play during conversations around race and bias: Sources of Bias Intersectionality Triggers of Bias Unpacking Bias You will be given a workbook of activities, tools, and resources to help you move beyond simply understanding the definitions of these key concepts and begin the hard work of making meaning of how they play out in your life and in any conversation you enter. With the aid of the workbook, you will leave with a plan to continue to strengthen your ability to effectively engage in […]