Abstract
Designing a course is about more than content delivery and technology. From the selection of course materials, to the organization of content, to how you utilize the technology, to the way you dialogue and interact with students in person and in virtual spaces, each move matters. Inclusive course design helps establish and support a class climate that fosters belonging for all students. Relying on current research and our experience designing, teaching, and supporting all modalities, this session takes a deep dive into fostering an inclusive classroom space. This is a frank discussion on selecting course materials to help students gain an understanding of, and respect for, multiple perspectives and backgrounds, understanding the language and techniques we use and how they may privilege some while disadvantaging others, strategies for creating effective dialogue and modes of interaction that foster equity and inclusivity.
Presentation Description:
Diverse and inclusive course design involves varying your course materials, teaching methods, and learning activities to accommodate a diverse group of students with a range of learning preferences, abilities, and lived experiences. In an article 40 years old, we are challenged to understand that classroom climate is affected not only by blatant instances of inequality directed towards a person or group of people, but also by smaller, more subtle "micro- inequities" that can accumulate and have significant negative impacts on learning (Hall, 1982). Whew – the fact that the need to have this conversation continues in 2022 – tells us a lot about how much work still needs to be done.
The first step in inclusive course design is to know thyself. These strategies we discuss can be applied to various modalities of delivery, but it can be especially difficult to foster diversity and engagement in a virtual classroom. A good place to start is to look with a critical eye at your teaching and learning philosophy and ask yourself if the readings, audio and visual content, and the examples and discussion questions used welcome and communicate diversity. Take into consideration your discipline’s ideologies and then reflect on how students from different backgrounds and abilities think about or view knowledge and how your course content could be alienating some students. When curating your materials make sure to represent various viewpoints, use a variety of learning activities, and present course content both orally and visually. Design examples and prompts that encourage sharing perspectives and meaningful dialogue, not just rote discussion posts. Invite students to help co-create the course materials by gathering pertinent information through surveying or asking them to share materials to a communal space that reflects a range of perspectives and backgrounds while making connections to course content.
Procuring diverse content is the starting point but organizing the course in a way that doesn’t privilege one student or group over another is an important part of inclusive design. Follow the Universal Design for Learning framework to ease barriers to learning by providing multiple modalities like multimedia with captions and transcripts and in formats that learners can easily adjust by increasing text size or screen brightness. Provide accessible presentations and use fonts and colors that are accessible to all learners. Be mindful of the technology your students have access to and organize the course in a way that maximizes benefits and lessens barriers.
It takes more than diverse content and functional design; the delivery of the course is equally important. How you interact with the students and the content directly impacts the way the students will interact with you and the content. Student to student interaction is vital to building community in an online environment and influences student satisfaction, the development of problem-solving and critical thinking skills, and increased student performance. Through group projects, role playing, and self-introductions students can create social rapport and build online community. Instructors can enhance positive interaction in their online course by giving students the necessary tools to engage in respectful behaviors including initiating conversations, accepting diverse viewpoints, praising other’s efforts, and inviting continued commentary. Creating meaningful dialogue is a key component of an inclusive environment, so provide feedback in a timely manner, incorporate reflective activities, and invite feedback and evaluation from your students to assess what’s working.
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