Workshop Diversity & Education

• Pedagogische wetenschappen
• WO
• Studiejaar 5

Welcome!

Workshop Diversity & Education

Andrea, Maria and Eva

DIVERSITY SKILLS

“People fail to get along because they fear each other; they fear each 

other because they don't know each other; they don't know each other because they have not 

communicated with each other.” 

- Martin Luther King Jr.

WHAT IS DIVERSITY

Diversity

WHAT IS DIVERSITY

DIVERSITY DEFINED

What is your definition of diversity in a classroom? 

In couples write your own definition. Try to keep as precise as possible.

AIMS FOR EACH TEACHER / STUDENT

Sensitive to diversity  

Can manage uncertainty  

Able to adjust your communication

Can build commitment 

Can build commitment 

Interest, recognize perspectives, own norms

Diverse setting is less predictable

Monitor your own behavior & adjust to needs

Stimulate cooperation, integrate students

Can build commitment 

OUR ROLES

FOUR CASES

Roles	Elements	Case
1. Subject teacher	Culture	Teaching materials
2. Guide and counselor	Religion	Clash between religion vs school rules
3. Teacher beyond the classroom	Socio-economic status	Impact of poverty
4. Professional development	Gender / sexual orientation	Increasing inclusivity

CASE 1

Case 1: Teaching materials

Diversity element: Culture

Approach from the role of: Subject teacher

Case description:

On the course materials that you are supposed to use you realize that they are very western centered meaning white people in the pictures/photos, Dutch examples like Dutch products and so on. How can you present the course materials in a more diverse way? Be creative!

CASE 2

Case 2: Clash between religion vs school rules

Diversity element: Religion

Approach from the role of: Guide and counselor

Case description:

On a regular basis, you have given your students homework for after the weekend. After class, student X approaches you and tells you that he/she will not be able to deliver the homework as his parents told him he/she will have to dedicate all Sunday to religious activities. How do you respond from the perspective of a guide and counselor? What are the steps you are going to undertake?

CASE 3

Case 3: Student collapses due to no food available at home

Diversity element: Socio-economic status

Approach from the role of: Teacher beyond the classroom

Case description:

A student faints during a colleague's Monday morning lesson. The teacher immediately informs the child’s mother of the incident. The mother bursts into tears and explains that her family has not had anything to eat since Friday. How do you react in your role as “teacher beyond the classroom”?

CASE 4

Case 4: Increasing inclusivity 

Diversity element: Gender / sexual orientation

Approach from the role of: Professional development

Case description:

In your highschool one of your colleagues explains to you that the ¨he/she¨ identity does not represent the way he/she feels. Therefore from now on the non-binary or genderqueer concepts are the ones chosen by him/her. In the coming days the person will announce it to the rest of the team and the students. How would you approach the situation in terms of your professional development? 

SENSITIVITY GROWTH PROCESS

Stage	Traits	Way out
Denial	Lack terminology	Getting to know
Defence	Them-us (threats)	Find similarities
Minimalization	Use your norms to judge/help them	Awareness of our own programming
Acceptance	Offers new alternatives (knowledge level)	Cultural empathy (students exchange-mingle)
Adaptation	Use 'their' norms to evaluate 'them' (behaviour level)	Practice frame-of-reference shifting (travel and learn new languages)
Integration	Have bi-cultural identity No need to make 1 statement Good intercultural mediators	And enjoy diversity!

Thank you!