Multiculturalism/Diversity/Inclusive Classrooms: Inclusive Teaching Methods

The increasing diversity of student populations in colleges and universities makes it imperative that teachers in all disciplines develop classroom strategies to address the needs of a broad range of students. This section offers links to sites that provide insight into diverse student populations and suggest inclusive teaching methods designed to improve teaching and learning across the curriculum. The final two links deal with affirmative action issues in teaching.

Achieving Excellence in Multicultural Instruction (Michigan State University, College of Communication Arts and Sciences).
A large and well-organized site with a variety of resources on multicultural instruction. Reading Room has links to research, articles, books, and diversity websites; faculty profiles offer video clips of multicultural teaching. Includes sample syllabi with a multicultural approach and a bias-free usage self-test.
Link: http://www.diversity.cas.msu.edu/about.html

“Selected References on Infusing Diversity in Teaching and Learning,” compiled by Mathew L. Ouellett and Christine A. Stanley for Michigan State University’s 2005 Spring Institute on College Teaching and Learning.
Bibliography of materials on multicultural education, each entry linked to the Michigan State University Libraries online catalog.
Link: http://www1.provost.msu.edu/facdev/SpringInstitute/LearningRefList.htm

Diversity Web: An Interactive Resource Hub for Higher Education.
This is a mega-site dedicated to promoting diversity throughout postsecondary education. Contains materials and links on a broad spectrum of topics including diversity innovations in teaching, research and trends, curriculum change, and campus climate and culture. Also has the online version of current and past issues of Diversity Digest, a periodical published by the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
Link: http://www.diversityweb.org/index.cfm

Teaching Strategies: Creating an Effective Learning Climate (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
This web page contains links to articles and websites with strategies for creating inclusive college classrooms that improve the learning climate for all students.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tscelc.html

Teaching Strategies: Multiculturalism and Diversity in Teaching (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
Links on this page provide annotated bibliographies, web articles, material on working with specific student populations, and other resources for understanding multiculturalism and diversity in the classroom.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/tstrategies/tsmdt.html

"Student Diversity Requires Different Approaches to College Teaching, Even in Math and Science," Craig Nelson, Indiana University (In American Behavioral Scientist, Vol. 40, No. 2, November/December 1996, 165-175).
In this article, Nelson argues that Blacks and other traditionally under-represented groups struggling with college courses such as math and science can succeed when alternative pedagogies are used. He describes research by Treisman and others demonstrating the positive effect of using collaborative small groups with these students and offers additional active teaching strategies leading to "massive differences in overall student achievement," especially with students from non-traditional backgrounds.
Link: http://mypage.iu.edu/~nelson1/96_StudentDiversity.pdf

Diversity Toolkit (University of Minnesota, Center for Teaching and Learning Services).
This inclusive site offers a wide array of online links, references, and other resources for understanding and dealing effectively with diversity in the classroom and throughout campus. All resources are fully annotated.
Link: http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/teachlearn/resources/diversity/index.html

Teaching in Racially Diverse College Classrooms. (Harvard University, Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning).
Guidelines and tips for teaching effectively in college classrooms with racially diverse student populations.
Link: http://isites.harvard.edu/icb/icb.do?keyword=k1985&pageid=icb.page29807&pageContentId=icb.
pagecontent79853&state=maximize&view=view.do&viewParam_name=default.html

"Diversity and Complexity in the Classroom: Considerations of Race, Ethnicity, and Gender," Barbara Gross Davis (University of California, Berkeley). From Tools for Teaching, Jossey-Bass, 1993.
Strategies for effective teaching in multicultural classrooms. Includes suggestions for course content and materials, leading discussions, assessment, and advising.
Link: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/diversity.html

"Do’s and Don’ts of Inclusive Language," Media Task Force, Honolulu County Committee on the Status of Women. (Honolulu Community College, Faculty Development).
General and specific strategies for avoiding bias in language, with many examples.
Link: http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/inclusiv.htm

Resources for Instructors Concerning Class Discussions About Affirmative Action (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
Links to discussion guidelines, resources on teaching in diverse classrooms and on the value of diversity in the classroom, and material on affirmative action.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/affaction.html

Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives (Michigan State University).
Provides information on MSU’s diversity events, conferences, and awards. Offers online publications on such topics as non-discrimination, affirmative action, persons with disabilities, and institutional reports on diversity issues.
Link: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/