While equity and the practice of cultural responsiveness is a focus in many schools today, the shift to remote/hybrid instruction has created an even greater need. Addressing issues of inequity and ensuring that all students have what they need to succeed can seem exacerbated when students are not physically present in school.
This introductory module defines equity and equality in order to set the purpose for cultural responsiveness in remote/hybrid learning environments.
Modes of Learning
This module was designed as a toolkit where participants complete the first immersive scenario, make choices on activities based on the topic, and complete the reflection that ends the module. Within many of the choice activities, there are opportunities for participants to engage individually, in pairs or small groups, and in a whole-group setting. There are directions on each activity for participants or for facilitators.
Facilitator’s Guide: You are Here: The Why
Learning Objectives
- Teachers will learn the difference between equity and equality.
- Teachers will define culturally relative teaching and pedagogy.
- Teachers will explore and discuss ways to incorporate student experiences in their learning environments.
- Teachers will reflect on instructional equity as it relates to remote/hybrid learning environments.
Materials
Presentation: Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education in Remote and Hybrid Environments (PPT)
- How Would You Feel? (immersive scenario): This immersive scenario will provide you with a starting place in our exploration.
- Equity vs. Equality (video based): Watch a video and reflect on the difference between equity and equality in education. This includes an optional collaborative activity for a team, department, or faculty meeting.
- Defining Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (e-text): Read this e-text to define culturally responsive sustaining education using 3 key aspects: partnerships, high expectations, and student-driven instruction.
- Culturally Responsive Teaching (video-based): Watch a video and reflect on the meaning of Culturally Responsive Teaching. This includes an optional activity for a team, department, or faculty meeting.
- The Unequal Opportunity Race (video-based): Watch the video by Erica Pinto made for the African-American Policy Forum and reflect on the obstacles affecting equity and equality in the context of educating our most vulnerable students, many of which are exacerbated by remote and hybrid learning situations.
- Cultural Distance Calculator (action tool): Use this tool to identify similarities and differences between teachers and students to leverage and prioritize meaningful connections between learning and culture, language, and life experiences.
- Designing Equitable and Culturally Responsive Learning Environments (action tool): Use this tool to design a learning environment that promotes equitable access, equitable representation, and equitable opportunities for all learners.
- Supporting Schoolwide Culturally Responsive Practices (video-based): Watch a video and use the activity to synthesize ways to incorporate student experiences, cultures, and strengths into the learning environment.
- Lenses of Instructional Equity (reflection): Use these lenses of instructional equity to consider the toolkit contents you’ve explored in this module.
Contact
If you have questions or are unable to access any of these materials, contact:
April Francis-Taylor (she/her/hers)
P: 631-687-3007