Diversity-Neutral Learning Environments
From KNILT
Course created by Gia Campanella
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Introduction to Learning About Creating Diversity-Neutral Learning Environments
This course was designed to help educators create diversity-neutral learning environments.
What You Will Need to Participate in this Course
- Internet access via a computer or tablet
- Paper, pen or pencil, and basic drawing implements; eg. colored pencils, paints, markers, or crayons
- An open mind and an open heart
Course Objectives
- Participants will understand why diversity-neutrality is important in creating successful learning environments
- Participants will be able to identify the different aspects of diversity that could potentially be present in their future learning environments
- Participants will seek out online resources and be able to locate specific tools for creating diversity-neutral learning environments
- Participants will create a plan-of-action for how to create diversity-neutral learning environments in the future
Unit 1: Understand Why Creating Diversity-Neutral Learning Environments is Important to You!
Unit Objectives
- Participants will examine their own behavior in order to understand how they relate to people outside of their comfort zones.
- Participants will gain insight into other perspectives about diversity and inclusion.
- Participants will identify their feelings in order to fully reflect on a specific personal experience of feeling different in a learning scenario.
Unit 2: Identify What You Already Know About Diversity and What You Need to Learn!
Unit Objectives
- Participants will test their prior knowledge about diversity in order to further their awareness on issues revolving around inclusion.
- Participants will learn more about diversity through a basic, guided tour through some of the differentiating factors of diversity.
- Participants will illustrate a self-portrait in order to demonstrate an appreciation for their own factors of diversity.
Unit 3: Seek Out Resources for Your Learning Environment!
Unit Objectives
- Participants will identify the factors of diversity within their future learning environments.
- Participants will locate resources and tools to utilize in creating diversity-neutral learning environments.
- Participants will analyze resources and tools for practical use in their future diversity-neutral learning environments.
Unit 4: Create an Action Plan for How You Can Be a More Diversity-Neutral Educator!
Unit Objectives
- Participants will develop a plan-of-action for creating a diversity-neutral learning environment.
- Participants will practice a diversity inclusion activity in order to gain familiarity with diversity inclusion as a practice.
- Participants will reflect on their learning throughout the course and share their learning with others in order to create a more diversity-inclusive world.
References
Web Resources
Print Resources
- Tough, P. (2007, June 10). The class consciousness raiser. The New York Times. Retrieved from
- Partnoy, F. (2012) A slice too thin. Wait - the art and science of delay. New York: Public Affairs. File:Partnoy Wait.pdf