Part 1 of the Inclusive Teaching Series
The 2nd Annual Teaching and Learning Day event, sponsored by the Office of the Provost, and facilitated by the Coulter Faculty Commons, provided a space for faculty and staff across campus to learn about the Fellows’ work.
The initiative, led by associate dean Dr. Shamella Cromartie, with facilitation support from Dr. Darrius Stanley and Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford, led to a significant change in pedagogical perspective for participant Dr. Geraldine Riouff, assistant professor of environmental health.
“It lives with me today,” Riouff said. “We evaluated who we are as an educator, how this has influenced what happens in the classroom, and considered our academic background and talked about critical theory. We worked on our syllabi, the voices represented in our syllabi, and the resources we teach from and with.”
The program provided support from subject matter experts such as library faculty.
“Ann Hallyburton, in the library, was incredibly helpful surfacing diverse voices and resources for my Public Health class,” Rioff said. “I cover many different topics, and now I have broader representation and perspectives on subjects like traumatic brain injury, opiate addiction, and the other topics we cover.”
The program provided support from subject matter experts such as library faculty.
“Ann Hallyburton, in the library, was incredibly helpful surfacing diverse voices and resources for my Public Health class,” Rioff said. “I cover many different topics, and now I have broader representation and perspectives on subjects like traumatic brain injury, opiate addiction, and the other topics we cover.”
The fellowship speaks to who we are as a teaching and learning community, said Dr. Brandi Hinnant-Crawford. “Our third strategic direction says that Western is committed to creating a campus reflective of our core values and that we offer curricular and co-curricular educational programs that prepare students for the diverse world in which we live.”
Dr. Darrius Stanely agreed. “We were really purposeful about trying to cultivate inclusive pedagogy in the faculty already here at Western. When inclusive pedagogy is employed, students will view themselves as whole human beings with complex lives and experiences. It is a central component of the learning process.”
Other faculty in the cohort include Brandy Tiernan, Psychology; Melissa Snyder, Athletic Training; and Yiqing Yang, Sociology.
Resources for faculty who want to pursue Inclusive Pedagogy and Course Design
WCU DEI Community of Practice
Join the WCU DEI Community of Practice – This community of practice is open to any and all faculty and staff at WCU. Contact Ricardo Nazario-Colon or Jonathan Wade for more information and directions on how to join.
Inclusive Teaching: Supporting All Students in the College Classroom
This is a self-paced course offered by Columbia University through EdX. Estimated time to complete is 6 weeks, 2-3 hours per week. There is an option to upgrade to permanent access to the course for a minimal cost. Topics covered include:
- Creating an inclusive climate in the course
- Setting explicit expectations
- Promoting DEI through course content
- Designing all course elements for accessibility
- Cultivating critical self-reflection
Teaching and Learning in the Diverse Classroom
This is a self-paced course offered by Cornell University through EdX. Estimated time to complete is 5 weeks, 2-3 hours per week. There is an option to upgrade to permanent access to the course for a minimal cost. Topics covered include:
- Instructors – social identities, identity development, and intersectionality’s
- Students – implicit bias and stereotype three, disability-inclusion, send of belonging,
- Pedagogy – Inclusive learning environment
- Curriculum – redesigning the syllabus, designing for the learner
- Action and Change – institutional change, what can you do now?
The Coulter Faculty Commons is also planning the Summer Institute for Teaching & Learning this year. The in-person convening will be on May 10, which will kick off various ways instructors can participate in professional development this summer. Check back for more details.
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