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This Week's Topic Teaching Respect Higher education is the place for thinking people to think and the place where respect for all people can be fostered. As students are exposed to expanded knowledge and ways of thinking, their minds become open to new and creative ways of dealing with the people and the world around them. This week’s Teaching Tips give you ways to teach respect via your course. This Week's Tips Your Role and Opportunity as the Instructor (Monday) As the instructor, you are in the position of leadership and authority. You have the opportunity to grow minds, expand thought, and change the way your students look at and interact with the world. Use this week’s Download Depot to help your students get to know one another, and follow these tips in the classroom: Check your own respect level. Are you demonstrating respect for all your students? Integrate respect for all people into your course material. Diversity and the Adult Learner (Tuesday) Diversity is the strength of an educational system. Diversity refers to age, the color of people’s skin, cultural heritage, religion, gender, socioeconomic conditions, and education. Show respect for the diversity among your students in the following ways: Avoid telling jokes that could offend anyone. Give no student a soapbox platform in class, but do encourage all students to express their opinions. Demand tolerance from all students for all students. Dealing with World Situations (Wednesday) Education is not taught in a vacuum. Quite the contrary. World events affect you, your students, and your classroom. Fit a discussion about current world events into your course material when appropriate. Give each student who wants the floor two minutes to speak without interruption. Ask all students to show respect for their classmates’ opinions. If a world event is horrific or upsetting, postpone tests or other assessments for a week or so. Political Correctness in the Classroom (Thursday) Language is at the heart of political correctness, and education must be at the forefront of changes. Your language should indicate that you are sensitive to all your students regardless of gender, age, religion, or ethnicity. Remember these guidelines: Be aware of the language used in current textbooks. Publishers are sensitive to politically correct language. Insist that politically correct language be used by all students in your class. Dealing with Diversity in the Classroom (Friday) Students bring into the classroom their values, beliefs, prejudices, and biases. Being an instructor does not make you immune. You don’t leave your values and beliefs at the door; you don't leave your prejudices and biases at the door either. A bias may be in favor of students who work hard or for people who dress a certain way. Be aware of your own values, beliefs, prejudices, and biases, and show acceptance for all your students. |