Multiculturalism/Diversity/Inclusive Classroom: Teaching for Diverse Populations

As colleges and universities become increasingly more diverse, instructors must understand the needs and behaviors of a broad range of students and develop techniques for working effectively with them. The first three links below present general strategies for teaching diverse populations. The succeeding links provide information on specific student populations: women; students of color; students with disabilities; gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students; adult learners; and international students.

Women
Student of color
Student with disabilities
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Students
Adult learners
International students

Michigan State University Advances Diversity Within Community.
This web page links to MSU reports, campus resources, and worldwide resources on a range of diversity issues, including guiding principles for advancing diversity within community on campus, and support for lesbians and gay men, minority students, and women. Includes an extensive set of links to resources on handicapper needs and interests.
Link: http://www.msu.edu/access/

“Creating Inclusive College Classrooms,” Shari Saunders and Diana Kardia. (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).
This article details specific strategies for creating a classroom climate in which all students feel safe, supported, respected, and equally valued. Covers such issues as inclusive course content, managing classroom activities, and dealing with problematic assumptions.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/gsis/P3_1.html

Diversity in the College Classroom. (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Center for Teaching and Learning, 1997).
This online publication offers individual chapters on a dozen different types of students on campus. Each chapter describes the challenges faced by that group, including quotes from student interviews, and offers suggestions for enhancing instruction for that group. Also provides a chapter on general strategies for inclusive teaching.
Link: http://ctl.unc.edu/tfitoc.html

Illinois Cultural Diversity Association (Western Illinois University).
Annotated bibliography of journals and videos on cultural diversity, multicultural education, and traditionally underrepresented groups.
Link: http://www.wiu.edu/ICDA/resources.shtml

Recognizing and Addressing Cultural Variations in the Classroom ( Carnegie Mellon University , Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence Intercultural Communication Center ).
An online handbook for instructors to help them deal more effectively with today’s diverse classroom populations. Describes the areas of possible culture clash in U.S. classrooms and offers suggestions for instructors in areas such as expectations, skill development, teaching practices, and grading.
http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/resources/PublicationsArchives/InternalReports/culturalvariations.pdf

Women:
Michigan State University’s Women’s Resource Center
Offers a wide-ranging body of resources and links at MSU and elsewhere related to women at all levels in higher education.
Link: http://wrc.msu.edu/

Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) at Michigan State University.
Resources for women in scientific fields. Includes information on networking, research, teaching, mentoring, graduate school, and professional and home life.
Link: http://wrc.msu.edu/stem/index.htm

“Undergraduate Women in Science and Engineering: Providing Academic Support,” Susan Montgomery and Martha Cohen Barrett. (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Occasional Paper # 8, 1997). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Presents research findings on factors that influence the educational experience of undergraduate women in science and engineering, and makes suggestions for enhancing their support and success.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/occasional.html

Women’s Studies Online Resources (University of Maryland, Baltimore County).
Contains links to high-quality web sites focusing on women’s studies or women’s issues, including the WMST-L File Collection, an international email forum on women’s studies teaching, research, and program administration; the Center for Women and Information Technology; and much more.
Link: http://research.umbc.edu/~korenman/wmst/index.html

Students of Color:
Resources for Women of Color at Michigan State University
Useful links and information for students, including a list of women of color in faculty and staff positions at MSU and a guide to area resources.
Link: http://wrc.msu.edu/womenofcolor/index.htm

“Perceptions of Faculty Behavior by Students of Color,” Mark Chesler. (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Occasional Paper #7, 1997). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Reports results of 15 focus groups with undergraduate students of color addressing issues of faculty behavior and classroom climate. Suggests ways faculty can achieve a more equitable classroom environment.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/occasional.html

Students with Disabilities:
“Making Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: A Guide for Faculty and Graduate Instructors,” Crisca Bierwert. (University of Michigan, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching Occasional Paper #17, 2002). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Presents federal legislation and data on students with disabilities in higher education. Discusses resources and support strategies for helping these students succeed.
Link: http://www.crlt.umich.edu/publinks/occasional.html

Teaching Resources Guide: Disability Services (University of California, Irvine).
Specific ideas for supporting students with several kinds of impairments from physical problems to learning disabilities.
Link: http://www.disability.uci.edu/publications/publications/teaching_guide.html

The Faculty Room: Disabilities, Opportunities, Internetworking, and Technology, DO-IT (University of Washington).
This site focuses on providing access for students with disabilities in postsecondary education. Links help faculty consider strategies for maximizing learning for all students. Also links to DO-IT Home, the site designed to “increase success of people with disabilities in college and careers.”
Link: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Students:
“What Can an Individual Faculty Member and an Academic Department Do to Improve the Campus Climate for GLBT Students?” (University of Nebraska-Lincoln).
Discusses results of a GLBT student survey done at UNL, and lists several ways faculty members and departments can create a climate respectful of all students.
Link: http://www.unl.edu/cglbtc/GLBT Academic Faculty Memo.htm

“Making Colleges and Universities Safe for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender (GLBT) Students and Staff,” Warren J. Blumenfeld.
A summary of the report and recommendations of the Massachusetts Governor’s Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth. Recommendations for policies, services, and activities on and off campus that would enhance acceptance and security for GLBT staff and students.
Link: http://www.uga.edu/safespace/pdf/WJ%20Blumenfeld%20Making%20Colleges%20and%20Universities%20Safe.pdf

Adult Learners:
Teaching Tips: How People Learn (Honolulu Community College, Faculty Development).
This page has 5 links to information on understanding adults as learners and strategies for success with adults in the classroom.
Link: http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm

“Teaching Adult Students,” Cheryl J. Polson, Kansas State University. (IDEA Paper No. 29, 1993). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Characteristics of adult learners and implications for teaching.
Link: http://www.idea.ksu.edu/papers/Idea_Paper_29.pdf

International Students:
Suggestions for Teaching International Students More Effectively (Oxford Brookes University). Adobe Acrobat/PDF.
Useful guidelines for attending to the special needs of international students, from being more explicit to teaching “Western” academic skills.
Link: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/services/ocsd/2_learntch/briefing_papers/international_students.pdf

“Teaching International Students Across the Curriculum: Supporting Academic Listening/Speaking,” prepared by Soonhyang Kim (Ohio State University, Faculty and TA Development).
Research findings and pedagogical suggestions focused on 3 areas of difficulty for international students: note-taking and comprehension, lack of confidence, and unfamiliarity with U.S. discourse patterns.
Link: http://ftad.osu.edu/Publications/intloral.html

MSU Resources

Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatves: http://www.inclusion.msu.edu/

Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities: http://www.rcpd.msu.edu/Home

Web Accessibility: http://www.msu.edu/webaccess/index.html

Office of Accessibility and Usability: http://usability.msu.edu/

Women's Resource Center: http://wrc.msu.edu/

Office of Study Abroad: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/

Office of International Studies and Programs: http://www.isp.msu.edu/

Office of International Development: http://www.oid.msu.edu/

Office for International Students and Scholars: http://oiss.msu.edu/