In a recent presentation by Timothy R. Bussey (they/them), the Associate Director for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, they made the case for incorporating curriculum changes that highlight diversity and inclusion in STEM fields. Doing so encourages students from underrepresented backgrounds to continue their STEM education and ultimately enter the STEM workforce. It also addresses the congressionally mandated responsibility to reduce the challenges faced by underrepresented groups in STEM https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn1103.
Bussy explained that smaller-scale incorporation is ultimately a great starting place for faculty members who, for instance, aren’t as familiar with topics related to diversity and inclusion or don’t necessarily have the time to commit to a larger overhaul of course materials, while emphasizing the impact that smaller-scale incorporation can make should not be understated.
A few curricular examples include:
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- Developing warm-up exercises that either integrate with your course material from the previous class or highlight famous scholars from your field;
- Diversifying how the information is presented throughout your course (depending upon your discipline);
- Providing readings written by scholars of color, women, and/or LGBTQ+ people in your field of study;
- Utilizing non-traditional materials like documentary films and/or podcasts that can highlight diverse voices related to the topic in question
- Engage in project-based learning by:
- Utilize an assignment that explores computer scientists of historical significance while also explaining how their contributions changed the field;
- Integrate an assignment that focuses on analyzing LGBTQ+ specific datasets that can’t be answered with a simple bimodal analysis;
- Incorporate an assignment that analyzes issues of generational wealth gaps faced by communities of color; https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/population-development/2019/03/26/persistent-intergenerational-racial-wealth-gap-clearly-illustrated-via-animated-data-visualization/
- Highlighting professional organizations or resources like oSTEM, https://ostem.org/ SACNAS https://www.sacnas.org/, and other professional groups;
Additionally, you may also find the following resources useful for continuing to consider how to diversify your course:
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- “Diversity in STEM: What It Is and Why It Matters”- from Scientific American https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/diversity-in-stem-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/
- “Designing Your Quantitative Course With LGBTQ Diversity” – from Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut: https://gcci.uconn.edu/2017/04/18/designing-your-quant-course-with-lgbtq-diversity/
- Diversity And Inclusive Teaching Practices In STEM: https://cte.virginia.edu/blog/2020/01/05/diversity-and-inclusive-teaching-practices-stem
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