This independent study course is designed for multicultural education for teachers who wish to expand their knowledge on topics concerning diversity and multiculturalism.
Teachers at all grade levels and areas of the country have diversity in their classrooms. Diversity includes, but is not limited to, characteristics such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, gender roles, and disabilities. This independent study will focus on skills and techniques teachers can use in their classrooms to better understand and accommodate individual students based on their diverse backgrounds.
In this course you will:
- Create and develop lessons and activities to use in your own classroom, which promote diversity and cultural acceptance
- Reflect on teaching experiences within your own classroom and develop strategies to accommodate culturally diverse students
- Develop skills that are beneficial for not only for you as the teacher, but for your students as well
- Address personal narratives from teachers, parents and students’ perspectives and reflect on how your classroom situations may be similar
- Design short projects that can be implemented in your own classroom to promote diversity and cultural understanding
- Describe the effects of implementing particular strategies in the classroom
- Broaden definitions of diversity and multiculturalism to include areas such as socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, and disabilities
EROM –
Educating in a Diverse Classroom is a great course for new teachers and veterans. I recommend this course to anyone working with ELL and special education students in your classroom.
– Diane Schnoebelen-Kramer, Cedar Rapids, IA
EROM –
The course, Educating in a Diverse Classrom, is an important course for classroom teachers during any point in their teaching career. The title of the course hints at a multi-cultural element. This of course, is an important component in a world that is growing smaller. Yet, the course accomplishes so much more. After a few lessons, the student will understand that the course is really a testament to the unique individuals that attend our classes each and every day. Too often, we pigeon-hole our students and do not give them a chance to share the gift of their individuality with one another. The irony, of course, is that Hollywood teenage films that do well at the box office are all about a celebration of the individual’s uniqueness. As educators, we need to follow this lead and turn our own classrooms into award winning productions.
– Anthony Stubbs, Emmetsburg, IA
EROM –
I truly appreciated the practicality of this class. The objectives and assignments were relevant. In addition, the subject manner and the way it was presented allowed me to better reflect upon my day to day teaching.
– Becki Flannery, Sioux City, IA
EROM –
I really learned a lot from this course. The directions were clear and concise and the reading material was very interesting. I look forward to applying the concepts I learned in my classroom. I’ve already noticed a difference in the way I view my students, whose socio-economic status is so different from mine.
– Nancy Perillo, Maple Heights, OH
EROM –
This course was very applicable to teaching in a diverse environment. As an inner city math teacher, I am always looking for new ways to differentiate my lessons in order to accommodate all learning styles. This course presented me with some great ideas and caused me to reflect on my teaching practice.
– Mark Fischbach, Saint Paul, MN
EROM –
“This class helped open my eyes to some issues that are present in the educational world today. I learned several strategies to help benefit me in my classroom when dealing with diversity. I am very pleased that I took this class and was exposed to the content. I enjoyed the materials and the coursework.” -Kortney P., IA
EROM –
“Educating in a Diverse Classroom was very beneficial to my current teaching situation. I felt this course provided me with many real life strategies and scenarios that I can apply to my classroom to ensure student success. I like how this course is set up to work at my own pace. This course will benefit me in the leadership position that I am in, using these strategies to ensure student success.” -Kelly Z., OH
EROM –
“The course, Educating in a Diverse Classroom, is a very practical course that will be beneficial to teachers in any grade level. I gained insight into the many differences that my students bring into the classroom. In addition, I also gained practical ideas in addressing that diversity. I especially enjoyed the personal narratives from teachers’ perspectives, as they helped me to consider how to apply the principles that I was reading about.” -Rachel A., IA
EROM –
“I have completed 30 undergraduate credits and 36 graduate credits. This independent study course was by far the clearest course objectives and expectations that I have ever experienced. I appreciated that each component and lesson had two or more options in order to maximize voice, choice, and engagement. Also, enjoyed that I was able to make real, practical connections to my current position.” -Tina S., MN