A history professor uses language of the period to describe historical issues. A student takes offense at what she perceives as ethnic slurs.
A student with visual disability enters the classroom (late) and is making his/her way to front of the room. The course is very technical in nature and the professor is placing numerous slides/overheads on a monitor. There are no handouts for the student with the visual disability. The students are being asked to practice finding muscles in each others arms while the professor gives visual instructions, etc.
Several international students have asked the professor to spend more time lecturing and less time on class discussion.
What would you do?
This tutorial argues for the benefits of using active learning techniques in diverse classrooms and offers some of the best practices in this area. Active learning can alleviate some of the challenges that arise when teaching a diverse group of students and can build a stronger communal learning environment.
The Center for Teaching and Learning offers other tutorials about teaching diverse groups of students: Teaching in Racially Diverse Classrooms and Building Respect for Diversity in the Classroom. These tutorials offer suggestions for making sure no one feels isolated or excluded, being self-aware, not assuming a shared background among your students, and recognizing diversity as something that should enhance the learning environment. In addition, CTL also offers other tutorials about active learning, including Getting Started with Active Teaching and Active Learning in an Online Environment.
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Note: The core content of this unit was first presented on January 31, 2004, Brooklyn Park, Mn, as part of the MinnesotaStateColleges and UniversitiesCenter for Teaching and Learning Spring 2004 Weekend Seminar Series.
Dr. Hurtado researches and teaches about institutional contexts for student learning and development, and addresses issues of racial climate, race relations and the dynamics of multiculturalism on college campuses. She has served on the Board for the American Association of Higher Education (AAHE), the Midwest Consortium for Latino Research, and the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), and the Council of Division J (Postsecondary Education) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA). She recently served on a special AERA panel on Racial Dynamics in Colleges and Universities.
Dr. Hurtado has published articles and research reports related to her primary interest in student educational outcomes, campus climates, and diverse students in higher education. Her recent book is entitled Enacting Diverse Learning Environments (ASHE-ERIC, 1999), and she has written numerous articles on student transition to college, access, and on creating campus climates for learning among diverse peers.
Webpage http://www.ctl.mnscu.edu MinnesotaStateColleges & Universities Center for Teaching & Learning
Lynda Milne is System Director for Faculty Development in the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities System. She is also director of the system's Center for Teaching & Learning, which serves 8,000+ systemwide faculty with programs of instructional development grants, professional development activities, and campus leadership in faculty development. At WayneStateUniversity in Detroit, Ms. Milne founded and directed a teaching, learning, and technology center serving 2,700 faculty. Prior to that, at the University of Michigan, she founded a student multimedia learning center in the natural sciences. She was also a regional director of UNIX training services in the early days of the Internet at AT&T in Oakland, CA. Milne's bachelor degree is from UC Berkeley, and she completed her master's and doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. _____________________________________________
Carol Steimer Bailey
Email: carol.steimerbailey@so.mnscu.edu
Webpage http://www.ctl.mnscu.edu MinnesotaStateColleges & Universities Center for Teaching & Learning
Carol Steimer Bailey is a faculty development coordinator at the Center for Teaching & Learning, on temporary assignment from her position at HennepinTechnicalCollege, where she has taught in multimedia and video production programs throughout her career. Originally a nurse by profession, Carol is nationally recognized as one of two women in the field of professional motorsports photography. She completed her BS degree at MacalesterCollege and an MA in instructional technology at St. Mary's University. ________________________________________
Dr. Gohagan has served as the Minnesota State University Mankato College of Social and Behavioral Science Faculty Technology Consultant for 6 years. She has specialized in the field of educational technology and has taught hybrid and online courses (including an international online course) for 9 years. She recently facilitated several online tutorials for MnSCU CTL and developed this series of online tutorials for MnSCU CTL. Dr. Gohagan has presented at local, state, national, and international conferences and published in the area of educational technology. In addition, she is a member of several national committees related to technology and teaching.
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