PED3155 - Diversity and Equity

Hello readers,

This week, we were asked as teachers how we believe we should handle both diversity and equity in our classrooms.

Diversity and equity are two very powerful terms in the realm of education. We first and foremost must be open and accepting to the incredible amount of diversity open to us as educators of Canadian youth. Towards that end, we should be taking strides as the leaders of the classroom to understand the needs of our learners and addressing it immediately. This means that our approaches and goals that we use need to be inclusive and properly address the variety of skills we are presented with. It also means that we should work hard towards understanding our students’ backgrounds towards treating them as a group of people “in progress.” We cannot settle for providing equal opportunities to every student, as that allows for us to remain ignorant of their backgrounds and doesn’t create a classroom of true equity. Equity in education manifests when we as teachers create a safe space where contributions are welcomed, and students have the same opportunity to access the class work and learning goals as their peers.

Teaching math and science, it may be difficult to imagine an equitable classroom. However, it seems much simpler when one considers the amount of online work that can be accessed. Providing students with both on and offline resources to enhance their learning, I believe that I may be able to give the students equal chances at grasping the material. This becomes especially useful when the students identify as ESL, as they are able to translate the questions and material into a language that is more comfortable for them. Additionally, ensuring that homework is not a priority towards completing the course objectives (i.e shifting the focus towards in-class work) helps all students use their in-class time to either enhance their knowledge or better grasp concepts, regardless of their after school commitments. Finally, incorporating examples that best suit the demographic of students that one is teaching helps the students better make connections with their prior knowledge, which will help them see themselves in the curriculum.

Image credit: https://edfunders.org/engage/impact-groups/equity-impact-group

#PED3155