Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

Culturally Responsive Education is a kind of forward-thinking pedagogy that allows for the intentional inclusion of students from underrepresented groups and helps all students feel valued and included; this is accomplished by following specifically outlined methods of teaching, combined with high expectations for students. Teachers who are successful in this approach are those who put in concerted efforts to get to know, learn from, and engage with students and families who are culturally and often linguistically different from the teachers. To set the stage for this to happen, it is imperative that teachers do their own introspective reflection work to discover areas of growth that, once strengthened, can help them truly teach this way. This course will help participants understand how to approach this introspective process, providing a structure for reflection that will help in designing culturally responsive educational experiences.

Now that you have learned foundational elements and components of Culturally Responsive Teaching, this course will take a closer look and a deeper dive at some of those for an enhanced understanding. What can windows and mirrors look like, particularly when the whole class looks the same? What about metaphorical bridges? What are methods of gathering funds of knowledge, and what are various ways they come in useful in teaching moments? How about student expectations in differentiated learning? And when and how are the best times and ways to engage families? In this course, we will take CRT deeper and discover ways to apply it to situations such as these.

Teachers serve classrooms filled with culturally and linguistically diverse students. An individual's culture and background are critically important to their experiences and outcomes as learners. It is therefore essential for educators to engage in teaching practices that are grounded in a dedication to cultural literacy, and a celebration for diversity. Creating a culture of empathy, equity, and belonging in the classroom begins with the ability to recognize and implement key features of a culturally responsive environment. Learners will leave this course with a wide breadth of knowledge surrounding diversity, and cultural inclusion, and responsiveness in a classroom environment.

Research has shown that learning outcomes increase in classrooms that engage students in culturally responsive learning experiences. As we journey to develop our competencies in culturally responsive practices, there are lenses we can use to critically analyze and develop an environment that sets the stage for planning and implementation. In this course, we’ll revisit the importance of culturally responsive practices and explore the process of establishing a culturally responsive learning environment through these four specific lenses: Audit (examining current practices), Relationships (with students and families), Environment (the physical classroom), and Curriculum (academic planning). Using the framework provided, along with the support of specific examples and resources, course participants will develop a plan to strengthen existing techniques or infuse new culturally responsive elements into their own practice.