Being Culturally Responsive in Higher Education

Laura McLaughlin Taddei

Find your quote Walk around the room and find the quote that

you can relate to the most Stand by your quote Tell us why?

Activity – Rotating Trio Exchange Group I – What does culture mean to you? Group 2 – What are characteristics of a

culturally responsive educator/administrator? Group 3 – How have you or will you deal with

diversity issues in your work environment?

Culturally Responsive National Center for Culturally Responsive

Educational Systems (NCCRESt) defines culturally responsive as “Ability to learn from and relate respectfully with

people of your own culture as well as those from other cultures”(NCCRESt, 2006-2008)

Gay (2010) described culturally responsive teaching as: “using the cultural knowledge, prior experiences,

frames of reference, and performance styles of ethnically diverse students to make learning encounters more relevant to and effective for them.

Culturally Responsive Educators possess the following characteristics Socially conscious An affirming attitude towards students from

diverse backgrounds Demonstrate commitment and skill to act as

an agent of change Practices and beliefs aligned with a

constructivist theory Desire to learn about students and culturally

responsive teaching (Villegas & Lucas, 2002 as cited by Kea, Campbell-

Whatley & Richards, 2006)

Activity – Questions for Reflective Practice Handout – The ABCs of Culturally Responsive

Conflict Resolution Complete handout Discuss with partner Follow-up activity – observe a peer in the

classroom and provide feedback on what you see

Strategies to Develop Culturally Responsive Students Modeling social justice teaching Using culturally responsive curriculum

approaches Critical Reflection Using Narrative Building Community

Tips to use in the classroom Have discussions surrounding controversies

and inequities that are going on in the field Ask students to share their experiences Provide student opportunities to interact in

the community Model through simulations, reflective writing,

case studies, games, social and group affiliations, and exploring personal history and development

Activity – articles related to diversity

Resources http://www.collegesuccess1.com/DiversityM.ht

m http://www.tolerance.org http://www.psyking.net/htmlobj-2305/embraci

ng_diversity.new_faculty07.htm http://www.uww.edu/learn/diversity/dozensugg

estions.php