culturally sensitive learning practices

Culturally-Sensitive Learning Practices

Dr. Lesley FarmerDr. Lesley Farmer

California State University Long Beach

[email protected]

Diversity Challenge Resilience: School Libraries in Action - The 12th Biennial School Library Association of Queensland, the 39th International Association of School Librarianship Annual Conference, incorporating the 14th International Forum on Research in School Librarianship, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 27 September – 1 October 2010.

AgendaAgenda

�Cultural factors

�Language issues

�Teaching factors

�Cultural factors

�Language issues

�Teaching factors�Teaching factors

�Future

�Conclusions

�Teaching factors

�Future

�Conclusions

Cultural FactorsCultural Factors

�Definition: group beliefs, social forms and traits

�Cultural assumptions subconscious,

�Definition: group beliefs, social forms and traits

�Cultural assumptions subconscious, �Cultural assumptions subconscious, norms and values are behaviors

�Teaching tends to be surface so problems can arise

�Cultural assumptions subconscious, norms and values are behaviors

�Teaching tends to be surface so problems can arise

oral

written

narrativevideos

modeling

contextualizedpractice

isolated drilland practice

communication

assessmentopportunities

electronictools

simulations

technologyenhanced

skillsbased

lecturebased

knowledge ofhow people learn

modeling

learning bydesign projects

problems

casestudies

self-study

cooperativelearning

jigsawlearning

communicationenvironments

individualvs. group

inquirybased

From: How People Learn (expanded edition), p. 22

knowledge ofhow people learn

Elearning CharacteristicsElearning Characteristics

�Physical access to resources

�Experiencing information formats

�Intellectual access to resource: note

�Physical access to resources

�Experiencing information formats

�Intellectual access to resource: note �Intellectual access to resource: note tech skills

�Social learning

�Digital natives vs. immigrants

�Intellectual access to resource: note tech skills

�Social learning

�Digital natives vs. immigrants

Learner Cultural CharacteristicsLearner Cultural Characteristics

�Language (primary/secondary, usage, vocabulary)

�Educational philosophy and experience

�Language (primary/secondary, usage, vocabulary)



�Gender issues

�Age-linked cultural norms (generation, family, social realities

�Knowledge of career


�Gender issues

�Age-linked cultural norms (generation, family, social realities

�Knowledge of career

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Model

Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Model

�Power distance

�Individualism vs. collectivism

�Masculinity

�Power distance

�Individualism vs. collectivism

�Masculinity�Masculinity

�Uncertainty avoidance

�Note learning styles (field-dependent, non-linear learning)

�Masculinity

�Uncertainty avoidance

�Note learning styles (field-dependent, non-linear learning)

Biggs’ 3P Model of Teaching and Learning

Biggs’ 3P Model of Teaching and Learning

�Presage: experiences before learning

�Process during learning

�Presage: experiences before learning

�Process during learning�Process during learning

�Products: outcomes of learning

�Differentiation between surface learning, deep approaches, achievement orientation

�Process during learning

�Products: outcomes of learning

�Differentiation between surface learning, deep approaches, achievement orientation

Kalyanpur and Harry Cultural Benchmarks

Kalyanpur and Harry Cultural Benchmarks

�Cultural knowledge

�Cultural awareness

�Cultural sensitivity

�Cultural knowledge

�Cultural awareness

�Cultural sensitivity�Cultural sensitivity

�Cultural competence: congruent behaviors

�Cultural proficiency: interaction

�Cultural sensitivity

�Cultural competence: congruent behaviors

�Cultural proficiency: interaction

Language IssuesLanguage Issues

�Language idioms/formality�Online benefits: translation, pacing, anonymity

�Communicating: plain language,

�Language idioms/formality�Online benefits: translation, pacing, anonymity

�Communicating: plain language, �Communicating: plain language, define terms, slow/clear, rephrase/summarize, graphic organizers

�Check for understanding�Provide local language resources�visual cues (may mislead)

�Note sports terms

�Communicating: plain language, define terms, slow/clear, rephrase/summarize, graphic organizers

�Check for understanding�Provide local language resources�visual cues (may mislead)

�Note sports terms

Teaching FactorsTeaching Factors

�Student-teacher relations

�Topics of discussion (taboos, feelings)

�Student-teacher relations

�Topics of discussion (taboos, feelings)feelings)

�Choice of resources

�Learner participation

�Learning activities

�Assessment

feelings)

�Choice of resources

�Learner participation

�Learning activities

�Assessment

Technology Teaching IssuesTechnology Teaching Issues

�Equipment and connectivity

�Tech experience and self-efficacy

�Generational issues

�Equipment and connectivity

�Tech experience and self-efficacy

�Generational issues�Generational issues

�Time differences

�Evaluation of resources

�Web: software, accessibility

�Tech support

�Generational issues

�Time differences

�Evaluation of resources

�Web: software, accessibility

�Tech support

ID Cultural Adaptation Process Model (Edmundson)

ID Cultural Adaptation Process Model (Edmundson)

1. Evaluate complexity of content

2. Identify instructional methods and activities

3. Identify cross-cultural dimensions relative to

1. Evaluate complexity of content

2. Identify instructional methods and activities

3. Identify cross-cultural dimensions relative to 3. Identify cross-cultural dimensions relative to learning: motivation, collaboration, learner control, teacher role, value of errors

4. Identify culturally-contextualized learner preferences

3. Identify cross-cultural dimensions relative to learning: motivation, collaboration, learner control, teacher role, value of errors

4. Identify culturally-contextualized learner preferences

Degrees of Accommodation/Localization

Degrees of Accommodation/Localization

�Translate (simple words, neutral content)

�Find local resources and examples

�Translate (simple words, neutral content)

�Find local resources and examples�Find local resources and examples

�Modularize with culture-specific learning objects

�Do locally

�Find local resources and examples

�Modularize with culture-specific learning objects

�Do locally

Future TrendsFuture Trends

�More cultural mash-ups (fluid lines, identities, die-hards)

�Information overload

�More cultural mash-ups (fluid lines, identities, die-hards)

�Information overload�Information overload

�Web 2.0 (peers, self-disclosure, hierarchy, privacy)

�Information overload

�Web 2.0 (peers, self-disclosure, hierarchy, privacy)

10 Tips10 Tips

1. Clear info and expectations2. Know students better (peers too)3. Safe, comfortable class climate4. Structure learning for meaning (culture)5. Provide access to resources

1. Clear info and expectations2. Know students better (peers too)3. Safe, comfortable class climate4. Structure learning for meaning (culture)5. Provide access to resources5. Provide access to resources6. Support/staffold learning7. Give process/evaluation time8. Study groups; help students express

knowledge9. Timely, specific feedback10. Help students self-monitor/demo competence

5. Provide access to resources6. Support/staffold learning7. Give process/evaluation time8. Study groups; help students express

knowledge9. Timely, specific feedback10. Help students self-monitor/demo competence