Welcome to the CIRTL Network’s Virtual Coffee Hour

1. Teaching in Diverse Classrooms Welcome to the CIRTL Network’s Virtual Coffee Hour A. T. Miller Yanqiao Chen Session begins at: 1 PM CT When you join the room please run the Audio Setup Wizard: Tools Menu->Audio->Audio Setup Wizard If you do not have a microphone, dial 855-947-8255 (toll free), Use Passcode: 7457063 If you are experiencing problems and/or have questions, please type into the chat window

2. Ways to Interact during the Coffee Hour Discussion • Turn on/off your microphone: • Raise your hand if you have a question or comment • Turn on/off your video: • Use the chat window to add comments, ask questions, or request help

3. Teaching in Diverse Classrooms A. T. Miller, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Diversity Initiatives, Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Cornell University Yanqiao Chen, Undergraduate in the Dept of Chemistry, McNair Scholar, Chemistry & Physics TA & Tutor, Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives, Cornell University

4. Using Classroom Diversity to Enhance Learning • Recognize variations among student preferences and strengths • Help students understand and value the differences between each other • Make sure that student assignments and participation are open to all equally • Don’t make spokespeople or examples of any particular students.

5. Some Principles for Teaching Inclusively • Use dynamics of group work • Avoid gate keeping/tracking • Concept-based AND problem-based • Study groups outside of class • Avoid “under-teaching” • Relevant and varied modeling, topics, examples, and projects

6. Dynamics of Group Work • Instructor chooses groups and teams • Change groups at least once • Provide roles, structures, procedures • Heterogeneous ‘ability’ within groups • Grade the group • Varied learning styles http://www.ncsu.edu/felderpublic/ILSpage.html

7. Avoid Gate Keeping • Be the coach, not the judge • Don’t set up students in competition with each other (never grade on a curve, avoid “winners” and “losers”) • Grade to clear standards and expectations • Use exams as group goals

8. Problem vs. Concept-based • Balance these approaches • Recognize the biases of the material and field you teach and compensate • Allow for varied methods that achieve correct results • Include plenty of examples and applications

9. Study Groups • Encourage students to work together outside of class in regular study groups • Provide structure, roles, and guidance to such groups • Assign and change groups at least once a semester

10. “Under-teaching” • Monitor your own behavior, or ask a colleague to observe you • Be sure to rotate classroom roles and expectations in a regular pattern throughout all students • Be aware of those students you identify with and those who put you off

11. Constant Relevant Variation • Draw on variety of resources for problems, examples, procedures. • Make room for student contributions, especially in areas unfamiliar to you • Exchange ideas with colleagues of varied backgrounds • Take students into the community

12. General Climate • Open and challenging atmosphere • Use differences constructively • Give students shared responsibility • Encourage full participation • Provide a variety of modalities • Guide and support students to apply learning to their individual experiences • Reframe to take ‘heat’ off surprising or unpopular individual contributions

13. Teaching in Diverse Classrooms A. T. Miller, Associate Vice Provost for Academic Diversity Initiatives, Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Cornell University Yanqiao Chen, Undergraduate in the Dept of Chemistry, McNair Scholar, Chemistry & Physics TA & Tutor, Office of Academic Diversity Initiatives, Cornell University

14. Upcoming CIRTL Events Building an Academic Career Coffee Hour Series Teaching and Learning in the STEM Classroom Coffee Hour Series • Developing a Work-Life Balance for Sustaining a Productive Career and your Sanity • February 27th, 2013, 1-2pm CT • Facilitated by: • RiqueCampa, Professor, Dept of Fisheries and Wildfire Ecology, Associate Dean of the Graduate School, Michigan State University Teaching and Using Writing Skills in the STEM Classroom March 20th, 2013, 1-2pm CT Facilitated by: Michelle Sulikowski, Professor, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University Kathryn Miller,Professor, Department of Biology, Washington University in St Louis Brian Chabot, Professor, Dept of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University Issues Confronting Minority Graduate Students: Examining the Issues and Responses through Case Studies March 12th, 2012 , 11am-noon CT Facilitated by: Kermin Martinez, Assistant Professor, Dept of Chemistry, St. John Fisher College (Rochester, NY) CIRTLCast Series To sign up to hear about these and other CIRTL events, emailinfo@cirtl.net.