Unveiling Biases: How Our Minds Create Prejudices

• TOK
• Tertiary Education

Unveiling Biases: How Our Minds Create Prejudices

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will be able to explain how biases are produced.

Start the lesson by clearly stating the learning objective to the students.

What do you already know about biases and how they are formed?

Slide 1: Introduction

Definition of biases and their impact on decision-making.

Introduce the concept of biases and explain their significance in shaping our perspectives.

Slide 2: Types of Biases

Overview of common biases such as confirmation bias, halo effect, and availability heuristic.

Discuss various types of biases and provide examples for better understanding.

Slide 3: Confirmation Bias

Explanation of confirmation bias - seeking information that confirms existing beliefs.

Elaborate on confirmation bias and encourage students to reflect on instances where they may have exhibited this bias.

Slide 4: Halo Effect

Description of the halo effect - forming judgments based on one trait or impression.

Explain the halo effect and ask students to share examples of situations where they have witnessed this bias.

Slide 5: Availability Heuristic

Definition of availability heuristic - relying on immediate examples that come to mind.

Teach the concept of availability heuristic and encourage students to think critically about the potential consequences of this bias.

Slide 6: Causes of Biases

Factors influencing the development of biases, including socialization and personal experiences.

Discuss the factors that contribute to the formation of biases and prompt students to consider their own experiences.

Slide 7: Cognitive Biases

Explanation of how cognitive biases occur due to mental shortcuts and simplifications.

Focus on cognitive biases and help students understand the underlying psychological mechanisms.

Slide 8: Cultural and Social Influences

Overview of how cultural and social environments shape biases.

Explore the impact of culture and society on bias formation and encourage students to contemplate their own cultural influences.

Slide 9: Implicit Bias

Introduction to implicit biases and their unconscious nature.

Introduce the concept of implicit bias and highlight its unconscious nature to create awareness among students.

Slide 10: Effects of Biases

Explanation of the consequences of biases on decision-making, relationships, and society.

Discuss the harmful effects of biases and encourage students to think critically about the broader implications.

Slide 11: Overcoming Biases

Strategies to mitigate biases, including self-reflection, empathy, and exposure to diverse perspectives.

Present practical techniques for overcoming biases and emphasize the importance of self-awareness.

Slide 12: Recognizing Biases

Guidelines for recognizing biases in ourselves and others.

Provide students with tools to identify biases in their own thinking and in the world around them.

Slide 13: Addressing Biases

Approaches to address biases in personal and professional settings.

Discuss methods to address biases and promote inclusivity in various contexts.

Slide 14: Critical Thinking

Encouraging critical thinking as a means to challenge and overcome biases.

Highlight the role of critical thinking in combating biases and fostering a more objective perspective.

Slide 15: Media Literacy

Importance of media literacy in recognizing and countering biases in media.

Emphasize the significance of media literacy in understanding and challenging biased narratives.

Slide 16: Group Discussion

Group discussion activity to analyze real-life examples of biases in various contexts.

Engage students in a group discussion to analyze real-life examples of biases and encourage active participation.

Slide 17: Case Studies

Present case studies highlighting biases and their impact.

Share case studies to deepen understanding and facilitate critical thinking about biases.

Slide 18: Reflection

Promote individual reflection on personal biases and strategies for personal growth.

Allocate time for individual reflection and encourage students to consider actionable steps for personal growth.

Slide 19: Q&A Session

Interactive Q&A session to address any doubts or questions.

Allow students to ask questions and clarify any doubts they may have regarding biases and the content covered.

Slide 20: Conclusion

Summarize the key points covered and reiterate the importance of recognizing and addressing biases.

Conclude the lesson by summarizing the main takeaways and emphasizing the significance of addressing biases in personal and societal contexts.

Write down 3 things you learned in this lesson.

Have students enter three things they learned in this lesson. With this they can indicate their own learning efficiency of this lesson.

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Here, students enter two things they would like to know more about. This not only increases involvement, but also gives them more ownership.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.

The students indicate here (in question form) with which part of the material they still have difficulty. For the teacher, this not only provides insight into the extent to which the students understand/master the material, but also a good starting point for the next lesson.