Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) faculty had the opportunity to participate in an inclusive teaching workshop sponsored by the Offices of Academic Affairs and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Horane Diatta-Holgate, Ph.D., program director of inclusive pedagogy at Notre Dame Learning, was on campus for two days to show instructors teaching practices that can be beneficial for students and applied in any learning environment.
Diatta-Holgate has been conducting workshops since 2015 and finds that instructors are being inclusive, just not in all facets. “They may be inclusive in content, but maybe not in their assessments.” He says that awareness is the first step and can have the most significant impact. “We work on building awareness. Students don’t check their culture at the door, and neither do instructors, so there must be an awareness of the differences.”
Janet Clark, provost and vice president for academic affairs said, “As the diversity of our student population changes, we want to be intentional in how we deliver their education. This workshop will help us to develop our approach to ensure the success of all students.”
The workshop assists instructors in finding different ways to embed inclusivity and diversity in their courses and classrooms. “It will help them to structure and organize the classroom environment to support all students,” Diatta-Hogate said. Incorporating inclusive teaching practices requires planning, ongoing reflection and revision and will help instructors to create welcoming and productive learning environments.
Dee Reed, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion said about the workshop, “Inclusive teaching involves any number of methods that address the needs of students with a variety of backgrounds, identities and abilities. These strategies will directly impact learning and shape classroom experiences for all students.”
Participants in the workshop were shown how to:
- Become more inclusive in teaching through critical self-reflection
- Employ structure and transparency to improve student learning and sense of belonging
- Assess students equitably
- Use (inter)active learning strategies to engage all students.
Diatta-Hogate reassured participants that it will not be an overnight change. “It takes a developmental approach with incremental steps for small changes to benefit engagement in learning.”