EDUC 2120: Exploring Socio-Cultural Perspectives on Diversity in Educational Contexts

3 Credit Hours

Description:
Given the rapidly changing demographics in our state and country, this course is designed to equip future teachers with the fundamental knowledge of understanding culture and teaching children from diverse backgrounds. Specifically, this course is designed to examine 1) the nature and function of culture; 2) the development of individual and group cultural identity; 3) definitions and implications of diversity, and 4) the influences of culture on learning, development, and pedagogy.

Notes: Students will participate in 15 hours of service-learning field experiences. The field experience will consist of a placement in a community organization. Verification of professional liability insurance and a criminal background check are required prior to receiving a service-learning field placement.

Course Learning Outcomes
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to:

Examine the nature and function of culture. 
Explore how history and culture shape worldviews. 
Examine the development of his/her own cultural identity and learning styles. 
Develop and apply strategies for observing, analyzing, and comparing differences related to family structures, socioeconomic status, abilities/disabilities and culture. 
Articulate strategies for teaching culturally diverse students in the classroom. 
Identify school practices and policies that perpetuate and maintain achievement gaps, including negative stereotypes, related to race, class, persons with disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, and other forms of prejudice and discrimination. 
Identify educators’ cultural practices and expectations that perpetuate and maintain achievement gaps. 
Identify strategies that creatively deal with challenges and differences between the cultures of educators and students. 
Identify assets and values of diverse populations to bring student learning to high levels.