7
Equity guarantees that everyone, regardless of their identity, has the chance to grow, contribute and develop in a classroom. Essentially, it is the fair treatment of all members of a community. It refers to a strategy for ensuring that everyone has equal access to opportunities. It acknowledges that there are advantages and barriers and that results in not everyone experiencing lessons and concepts the same way. Equity is a process that begins with divergent thinking. Recognizing the imbalance, evaluating, and then attempting to work with and resolve systematic thinking. It is the process of coming up with different ideas or solutions to a problem. It requires a commitment to necessary goals, resources, respect, continual action and evaluation of progress.
While accommodations cater to specific student needs, inclusive teaching anticipates common challenges and incorporates additional flexibility and approaches that benefit all students, including students with disabilities, those who have significant home or professional responsibilities, English-language learners, and first-generation students.
Key Concepts:
- Divergent thinking: a term relating to brainstorming; being conscious of biases and developing creative ways to address pre-existing assumptions and to think differently about seemingly unrelated concepts
- Language (be concise)
- Be adaptable and flexible facilitation: be a facilitator; teachers should view themselves as a guide rather than an instructor
- Understanding: to empathize, to listen, to give the benefit of the doubt; remembering that students are human and have other obligations in addition to school
In this chapter you’ll explore
- empathy and flexibility in the classroom
- methods of empathy and flexibility in your teaching practice
- multiple means of representation, multiple means of engagement and multiple means of action and expression
- resources and tools for teachers and students that support empathy and flexibility in the classroom
What Is Empathy?
In its most basic form, empathy is the capacity to perceive and comprehend other people’s emotions and perspectives in a situation. Empathy, at its most advanced level, allows you to use your understanding to enhance someone else’s mood and help them through difficult situations. Empathy is sometimes mistaken with sympathy; however, the two are not equal. Sympathy is a feeling of caring for another person and wanting them to be happier. Sympathy, unlike empathy, does not entail a shared point of view or feelings. To utilize empathy successfully, pay close attention to your student and look for verbal and nonverbal cues that will help you fully comprehend their position. Generating ideas through a collaborative divergent thinking session can help determine their needs which can then be used as a springboard to determine possible solutions. Then, put your own biases aside and acknowledge their concerns.
Key Concepts:
- Consideration for various perspectives
- Know your l