Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, Harvard University | ONLINE DOCUMENT TIPS FOR TEACHERS TEACHING IN RACIALLY DIVERSE COLLEGE CLASSROOMS Teaching in racially diverse college classrooms often leaves people feeling uncertain about how to proceed and how to behave. Unlike the days when one teaching style fit all students, in today's context there is pressure to acknowledge and accept students with perspectives other than our own, to diversify our syllabi, to be more aware of classroom dynamics, and to pay more attention to how our students are experiencing the learning process. Our collective ability to respond to and be enriched by these challenges will determine the success of our institutions and students. To assist faculty and teaching fellows seeking to enhance learning for all students, we have put together this Tip Sheet, in the hope that it will empower educators to create the conditions under which diversity can flourish. When teaching in a multicultural context, we suggest that they prepare themselves in several ways: (1) Plan the course with the multicultural classroom in mind by considering syllabi, course assignments, examples, stories, and potential classroom dynamics. (2) Find ways to make the actual classroom open and safe for all students, and to make the material accessible to all students. (3) Learn how to intervene tactfully and effectively in racially charged classroom situations and to manage hot moments or hot topics. (4) Assess conscious and unconscious biases about people of cultures other than your own. The suggestions below offer some guidance for all of these stages. Undoubtedly, readers will have ideas of their own; we would appreciate hearing them. Send your comments to [email protected]. GUIDING SUGGESTIONS: 1. Educate yourself -- become as sensitive as you can to racial, ethnic, and cultural groups other than your own. At the same time: 2. Never make assumptions about an individual based on the racial, ethnic, or cultural groups to which he or she appears to belong. Treat each student first and foremost as an individual. Get to know each student individually.TIPS FOR TEACHING IN RACIALLY DIVERSE COLLEGE CLASSROOMS: The following tips are meant to be suggestions and not guaranteed solutions for teaching in racially diverse classrooms. Teachers should develop a range of pedagogical skills that best serve the needs of all their students. What a teacher can do in preparation for class: 1. Develop a syllabus that explores multiple perspectives on the topic. Incorporate multicultural examples, materials, and visual aids as much as possible in lectures. Make sure that the expectations for the pedagogical process and learning outcomes are stated clearly on the syllabus. Structure project groups, panels, laboratory teams, and the like so that membership and leadership roles are balanced across ethnic and gender groups. Develop paper topics that encourage students to explore different racial and cultural perspectives. Assign work of scholars from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds relevant to the topic being studied. 2. Design classroom instruction and materials with a diverse group of students in mind. Develop ground rules or norms that will guide how students are expected to interact with each other in the classroom. Design classes with a clear structure (there is a method and meaning to how teaching and learning is to occur) and flexibility (not so rigid that adjustments cannot be made). Consider how all students would experience the syllabus. Consider whether students of all cultures are likely to have a background in the material. Consider whether different approaches to learning are accounted for. Anticipate sensitive areas in the subject matter being taught. Think in advance about how one might handle sensitive topics or explosive moments. What a teacher can do to be sure the classroom itself is open to all students: 1. Create opportunities to get to know your students on an individual/personal basis. Get to know each student individually. Learn their names and how to pronounce them correctly. Use eye contact with all students; be open and friendly outside of class. Be accessible and encourage students to meet with you during office hours. Interact with your students in respectful, challenging, and collaborative ways. 2. Design opportunities for students to interact with each other in respectful and meaningfulways. Divide the class into smaller groups, and when appropriate, assign one person with the responsibility of reporting on the small group's work. Encourage students to form study groups. Create opportunities for students to present their work to each other and the whole class. 3. Activate student voices. Create opportunities for mutual teacher-student participation so that everyone feels a responsibility and openness to contribute. When appropriate, encourage students to share their thoughts about the subject, acknowledging their statements as they are made. When appropriate, create opportunities for students to personalize course content with examples from their own history so that they can make connections between ideas learned in the classroom and those learned through life experiences. Let students know from the very beginning that their thoughts have a place in the classroom, that we all have unique perspectives, and that these different perspectives are an important component of the learning process. Make it safe for everyone to voice their views by accepting all views as worthy of consideration. Don't permit scapegoating of any student or any view. Don't leave students alone out on a limb. Avoid creating situations where students are placed in the position of being representatives of their race. 4. Generate a challenging but vibrant learning process that encourages students to develop their creative, critical, and analytical thinking skills. Make the classroom norms explicit. Keep expectations high and provide the support required to meet these expectations. Ask students to locate cultural or even discriminatory content in textbooks or other materials. Ask students to research the position they are least comfortable with and to come prepared to articulate a defense of that posture. Present all sides of an issue. Play the devil's advocate for the least popular view Create opportunities for students to link