Inclusive and Effective College Science Classrooms: Engaging Students, Designing Lessons, and Integrating Diversity into Curriculum

Sunday Dec 8, 2019
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

This workshop is held in San Francisco in association with the 2019 Fall American Geophysical Union meeting (although it is held the day before AGU). We welcome instructors, both full-time and part-time, from all types of institutions (including those from research universities, 2-year colleges, and others).

Location: San Francisco Marriott Marquis, 780 Mission Street (room name: Foothill C)

Registration for this workshop has closed.

Workshop Description

Teaching diverse populations of students requires instructors to construct learning environments that are inclusive and effective. Research in many disciplines suggests that how students personally experience learning environments strongly influences their engagement, motivation, sense of belonging, and conceptual learning. Workshop participants will share a common experience as the basis for discussing how different students may experience learning environments differently from one another. Participants will have the opportunity to self-assess their current awareness of 21 common equitable teaching strategies and identify those that could be immediately implemented in their classrooms and other settings. This workshop will also focus on teaching choices we make as instructors. Participants will explore their current approaches to planning and reflecting on their teaching, and will explore the 5E learning cycle model as an analytical tool for understanding teaching choices. They will self-assess and analyze current class sessions and identify changes that could be immediately implemented. Participants will also discuss integrating diversity into their curriculum through Scientist Spotlights, metacognitive homework assignments that have been shown to shift students' stereotypes of scientists and enhance science identity. Finally, participants will develop action plans and will leave with specific practical strategies to implement in their courses and programs.

Workshop Conveners

Kimberly Tanner, San Francisco State University
Jeff Schinske, Foothill College
Heather Macdonald, William & Mary


This workshop is part of the Supporting and Advancing Geoscience in Two-Year Colleges: Faculty as Change Agents project and is supported by the National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education through grants DUE 1525593, 1524605, 1524623, and 1524800.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.


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