5 W A Y S T O C R E A T E A N I N C L U S I V E C L A S S R O O M

E N V I R O N M E N T O N T H E C O L L E G I A T E L E V E L

BY KATERINA ZISSOULI

T h e r e a r e m a n y a s p e c t s t o c r e a t i n g a n i n c l u s i v e c o l l e g e c l a s s r o o m , f r o m e n s u r i n g e v e r y s t u d e n t i s p a r t i c i p a t i v e

a n d e n g a g e d i n t h e c o u r s e m a t e r i a l , t o p r o v i d i n g o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s t u d e n t s t o s p e a k t h e i r m i n d s b a s e d

o n t h e i r o w n w o r l d v i e w s a n d l i f e e x p e r i e n c e s .

T h i s f e a t c a n b e a c h i e v e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g w a y s :

A D A P T C O U R S E C O N T E N TI f you are fortunateenough to have contro l over the mater ia ls you use for your spec i f i c course , then you ought to take fu l l advantage of that pr iv i lege . I t i s suggested that you choose course mater ia ls that “ inc lude mult ip le perspect ives on each topic of the course rather than focus ing so le ly on a s ing le perspect ive . ”

C R E A T E C L A S S R O O M R U L E S A N D G U I D E L I N E SThese ru les could inc lude:

respecting and listening to differing opinions 

maintaining an open mind

making an effort to get to know those who

are different from oneself

E L I M I N A T E B I A S E SI t should come as no surpr ise that a l l b iases h inder the chances of increas ing c lassroom inc lus iv i ty . Combat these at t i tudes and assumpt ions by mainta in ing a neutra l op in ion of a l l s tudents unt i l you t ru ly get to know them.

G E T T O K N O W O T H E R C U L T U R A L G R O U P SEducate yourse l f on the people you are teaching , whether through outs ide research or by actua l ly engaging in conversat ion wi th your s tudents .

Not only wi l l you learn about them, the i r cu l ture , and how they engage in cu l tura l t rad i t ions and habi ts , but you wi l l be ab le to bet ter defend them against d iscr iminat ion wi th in the c lassroom as wel l .

B E A W A R E O F S T U D E N T S 'N E E D SBe sure to of fer your s tudents your t ime and guidance throughout the semester , assur ing them that you are ava i lab le to a id them no matter how large or smal l the i r i ssue.

Encourage your s tudents to reach out to c lassmates for ass is tance as wel l , as th is wi l l foster the inc lus ive env i ronment you are seek ing to deve lop.