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Pedabology: A Blog on the scholarship of teaching and learning

In the Spotlight — The Inclusive Teacher

The inclusive teacher makes use of a variety of teaching methods and assessment strategies to address the needs of all students with a variety of learning styles.(Barbara Loach)

Tips for getting started:

First day of class:
  • Take a few minutes to explain to your class your preferred teaching style and what that means regarding how you generally prefer to deliver content, conduct class and design assignments and assessments.
  • Give each student an index card and ask for 4-5 items of information such as:
    • Name, hometown, etc.
    • Course load for the semester, extra-curricular activities, work schedules, etc.
    • What they hope to gain from taking this class
    • What they bring to this class (prior knowledge, experiences, attitudes)
    • Brief description of how they prefer to study (noise level, surroundings, etc.)
Each day:
  • Think of ways to "mix it up"—how many different ways can you present the same material—lecture, tell a story, watch a video, role play, inductive /deductive method, work as individuals or pairs or small groups, etc.
  • Give the students a reason why what they’re learning that day is important and/or give them some way to connect with the content personally ("Have you ever wondered why X happened?")
Occasionally:
  • Meet with colleagues from your discipline and across disciplines to discuss teaching activities (what worked, what didn’t)
  • Have a colleague observe you teach and count how many different ways you present the material or other aspects you may want to focus on.
  • Give students an opportunity to give you feedback about how the course is going—if they’re on track with you or stuck on something, etc.

Three Key Questions to ask yourself as you prepare for your classes:

  • In what ways can I present the material that will show respect for my students as learners?
  • How can I best show them the connections between what I think is important for them to know and what they really care about?
  • What choices can I offer regarding content, activities and assessments that will enable all my students to be effective learners?