Multiculturalism in the Classroom

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Multiculturalism in the Classroom

• Heartland Community College
• IDC

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Multiculturalism

• What is it?
• Both students and teachers are accepting of all
  races, cultures, orientations, and religions as
  evidenced by materials, activities and lessons.

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Multiculturalism

• Why is it Important?
• Work Environments teams, groups, interaction
• Students Motivation, Learning,
• Respect Citizenship

4
Multiculturalism

• HCC
• Mission Access and Excellence
• Promote appreciation of human diversity and
  commonality
• Vision and Philosophy responds to needs of
  diverse students
• Values Respect the dignity of all individuals

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Multiculturalism

• HCC
• General Education Student Learning Outcomes
• Receiving
• Responding
• Valuing
• Organizing
• Characterizing

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Multiculturalism

• Some Topics for Consideration
• 1. Multicultural Course Content
• Infused vs. Unit
• Intentionality of Learning Outcomes
• Avoid Singling Out
• 2. Know Students
• Ask about experiences

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Multiculturalism

• Perceptions of Faculty Behavior by Students of
  Color-U. of Michigan (M. Chesler)
• 1. Have Low Expectations of us
• 2. Dont care about us as individuals
• 3. Dont know were different from white
  students
• 4. Dont know were not all alike
• 5. Want us to be group spokespersons

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Multiculturalism

• Perceptions of Faculty Behavior by Students of
  Color-U (continued)
• 6. Curriculum/Class excludes us
• 7. Are uncomfortable with us
• 8. Use limited pedagogies
• 9. Relations with white peers sometimes
  problematic

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Multiculturalism

• 3. Know yourself
• Biases, stereotypes, false assumptions
• 4. Plan ahead for controversial topics
• responses, respect, singling out,
• correct and educate, conflict, safe zones

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Multiculturalism

• 5. Student Critique/Feedback
• Alternative materials/options
• 6. Power Relationships/Inequities

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Multiculturalism

• Think of a Class you teach and
• ID multicultural Questions raised by your class
• Think of ways to allow students to share their
  experiences so you know them better
• ID some varied pedagogies for teaching and
  learning about the topic

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Multiculturalism

• Pedagogies
• Role Play/Simulations
• Case Studies
• Information Gathering
• Sharing Personal Artifacts
• Create cross cutting groups
• Create reflection time

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Multiculturalism

• References
• http//www.diversityweb.org/
• http//opd.iupui.edu/diversity/
• http//www.crlt.umich.edu/multiteaching/summer98.h
  tml
• http//www.asu.edu/provost/intergroup/resources/fa
  cresources.html
• http//www.diversityweb.org/digest/W99/multidimens
  ional.html
• http//www.edchange.org/multicultural/tools.html