Inclusive teaching is always important, but it is especially urgent during times of uncertainty and increased stress. The move to remote learning can be an opportunity to look at your course with fresh eyes and identify ways to prioritize inclusion and make your course more welcoming to a diverse range of learners. I’ve collected a few strategies to consider.

When selecting course material, consider whether it represents diverse identities and perspectives. Do your students see their identities represented in course materials? After taking your class, could a student conclude that somebody like them doesn’t belong in the field? Does content represent experiences of/perspectives beyond the majority?

Next, consider ways to make course content multimodal. Providing the same content in text, audio, and visual formats promotes learning retention and improves overall course accessibility.

Reconsidering assessment practices can also be impactful. Consider ways to build in flexibility and student choice to allow students more opportunities to demonstrate their knowledge.

Since not all learners possess identical academic experiences and backgrounds, review your assessments for transparency: are they clear and specific, with guidance and resources for successful completion? The TILT model is a great way to achieve assignment transparency.

Finally, consider reading up on inclusive and equitable teaching that is specific to remote teaching or to specific tools, such as Zoom, that you are using in your course.

These strategies only scratch the surface of equitable teaching, but prioritizing them now is a great way to turn the challenge of emergency remote learning into an opportunity to show students you care.

Tags: Engagement,  Inclusivity, Diversity, Instructional Design