Discuss issues of equality and diversity and way to promote inclusion with your learners. Review other points of referral available.
“All students must feel that they are positively and equally valued and accepted, and that their efforts to learn are recognised, and judged without bias. It is not enough that they are tolerated. They must feel that they, and the groups to which they belong (e.g. gender, social-class or attainment groups) are fully and equally accepted and valued by you, and the establishment in which you work.” (G. Petty, 2009:82).
Based upon the above statement from Geof Petty, it is clear that a teacher like a doctor must promote equality and accessibility throughout the work environment (in and outside the classroom), and plan, deliver and assess a program that accommodates all learners and their individual learning styles. In my class, diversity is not a taboo subject, but celebrated through set activities that encourage students to work with each other.
I know by experience that every student acquire cognitive and motor skills in different ways, some will enjoy the learning process while doing and experimenting different practices, some enjoy speaking and listening, and others might need specific methods of assessment.
Discuss issues of equality and diversity
I try to ensure that my assignments do not show any signs of gender, disability, or age and religion reference, following strict college quality standards framework, avoiding any direct involvement with hurting any student‘s feeling or believes.
As a leader a teacher must also ensure all students participate in the shaping of their learning experience with discussions, feedbacks, and shared feelings, so adjustments can be made if a student is struggling or offering ideas. I particularly enjoy giving students opportunities to talk about their own experiences of the course, give them the sense of belonging on the pyramid on the “Maslow hierarchy of needs”; this is also a benchmark to create a positive learning environment with a circular method of teaching.
They are many techniques I use in the classroom which I think are promoting an inclusive learning environment:
- Student groups made of students with different learning styles, this can engage learners in seeing or approaching a problem from different perspectives.
- Blended learning: I use E-learning, Presentation and activities in each class room giving all students to grasp the aims and objectives of a session.
- I also use differentiation in my resources and assessments. For example the latest unit I had to teach this year was Flash. My assignment was clearly showing differentiation with a choice base project. Students were given a choice in their final project. The first project was the easiest one to achieve and would satisfy the program aims, both the second stretched and third projects allowed the more able students into looking constructing interactive applications.
A good teacher should demonstrate dynamism and flexibility when teaching and use a wide range of strategies and managing techniques which allocate opportunities for all individual learners, this might sound like a job for a super human but with effective class management techniques it can be achievable.
From the above it is evident that my student groups are self-sufficient and embracing each others differences.
I am aware that the learning environment, is effectively managed working with different members of staff, looking at;
- Rooms and equipment safety, accessibility and ease of use ensuring that I facilitate and accommodate students with any issues (i.e.: wheel chair access, hearing, vision, language) working effectively with different departments within the organisation, working towards achieving and promoting “Access to All”.
- Assessments, ensuring that all targets are SMART, and above all ensuring that students are offered different methods of assessment if need be. If a student as issues with writing I usually look at using audiovisual equipment, or support from other members of staff (signer, English support etc…),
- Personal resources, I often have a list of resourceful information, just case students with special issues such as drug, child care or else need help. I can look at internal or external support to help them.
- Any internal or external training that I might need, helping support all students in the classroom and enforce inclusive learning.
Bibliography
- G. Petty, 2009, Teaching Today, 4th Edition, Nelson Thornes
OTHER RESOURCES
- https://www.prodigygame.com/main-en/blog/diversity-in-the-classroom
- https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4629&context=open_access_etds
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