Abstract:

This poster session on culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) in action presents an artefact resulting from graduate students’ small group presentations. Teacher candidates participate in a semester long weekly (2h 45 minutes) online course that involves reading and discussing the textbook “Human Diversity in Education: An Integrative Approach” by Cushner, McClelland and Safford’s (2024). This is a composite of eight (8) electronic posters creatively designed by students to fulfill the requirements of an assignment in the graduate course named “EDU 530-Managing the Culturally Responsive Classroom.” Each E-poster summarizes a chapter (6-13) focusing on a characteristic of diversity or cultural attribute illustrated by the wheel known as the culture-learning process in chapter 3 of the book. The chapters suggest how instructors could implement multicultural pedagogy by creating a classroom that addresses each of the eight characteristics of human diversity (i.e. social class, race, language, religion, gender and sexual orientation, age, ability/disability and health, and nationality).

The assignment provides a rationale and the purpose of the task in addition to the guidelines. Each poster summarizes answers initially identified in charts highlighting the following topics: The Role of Social Stratification in Teaching and Learning, Classrooms That Address Race and Ethnicity, Teaching in a Linguistically Diverse Classroom, Religious Pluralism in Secular Classrooms, Developing Gender Inclusive Schools and Classrooms, Developmentally Appropriate Classrooms, The Ability/Disability Continuum and the Health Dimension, The Classroom as a Global Community: Nationality and Region. Each topic is discussed as a detailed chapter in the textbook, but the assignment focuses on key elements of pedagogy the instructor calls dimensions. Insights consist of key terms, classroom characteristics, content knowledge, pedagogies old and new, assessment techniques, role of teacher, ethical issues, virtual classroom motivation and management techniques. The posters highlight how these approaches contribute to teacher candidates’ pedagogical development, increasing conceptual understanding and approaches to implementation. The assignment ensures support for teacher candidates by modeling a pedagogy that meets the needs of diverse learners and prepares them for challenges in a rapidly changing world.

This poster presentation provides suggestions for college instructors to design assessments that are not only relevant in content but also conducive to application. The diversity framework offers opportunities for enhancing the effectiveness of teaching. The session is tailored for faculty, and administrators dedicated to upholding the value of human dignity in an increasingly diverse educational landscape. Recommendations include developing fair and effective assessments, enhancing faculty development in the field. Participants are invited to share research findings, experiences and perspectives related to designing pedagogical environments that promote inclusion and approaches to incorporating virtual motivation and management techniques.

Keywords:

Linguistically diverse classroom, ethical issues, secular classrooms, gender inclusive, developmentally appropriate practice, Exceptionality, assessment.