Dialogues on Inclusion: Discussing and reflecting on the complex issue of inclusion

Higher education today is filled with information about inclusive practices for our classrooms and schools that need to be discussed from multiple perspectives, and do not have simple solutions. A quick Google search will lead to hundreds of education events focused on inclusion for nearly every day of the year. These webinars are informative, use highly qualified speakers, and share new ideas and perspectives. However, studies have shown that although webinars are great ways to give faculty information, they do little in terms of changing behaviors or decisions by educators in the long term. A quote from Nancy Dana, author of “The PLC Book” states “While we may have been intrigued and even inspired, the next day we would all return to the hectic pace of our classroom routines, and whatever was learned during that one “in-service” day, quickly faded from our memories.”

Dana goes on to promote PLCs (Professional Learning Communities) as a way to follow up information workshops with opportunities for collaboration and dialogue that continues to develop the insights from the initial workshop. PLCs meet on a regular schedule and have a deliberate dialogue on the topic. By discussing and reflecting with others, there is a deeper understanding of the topics and a collaborative effort toward implementing new ideas. Members often collaborate on scholarship and policy to increase awareness among colleagues.

Cynthia Bauerle, PhD recently commented in a webinar from the SABER seminar series "Striving for racial justice in academic biology". They advocated that we must first acknowledge that racism and inequality exist in our classrooms, and then begin finding ways to change. There are nine of these seminars planned for this semester, and each will focus on diverse PEER (Persons Excluded due to Ethnicity or Race) groups.

The Teaching Innovation Center (TIC) would like to invite you to take the next step and begin having a dialogue with your colleagues after attending the RISE/SABER Seminars. Our TIC team will facilitate “Dialogues on Inclusion”, a monthly small group conversation focused on the inclusion topics presented during the seminars. Although you are not required to attend the seminars, we strongly encourage it. We welcome your thoughts, input, and collaboration to increase inclusion in our School of Life Sciences.

For more information, please contact TIC@asu.edu

Resources:

Ferlazzo, L. (2018, June 12). Response: Professional Development Does Not Need “One-Shot Wonders” (Opinion). Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-response-professional-development-does-not-need-one-shot-wonders/2018/06


SABER Seminars: https://saberbio.wildapricot.org/Diversity_Inclusion

Dialogues on Inclusion Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-tPCeEa0tOtpToaxYs5kkEeB08A34YOK/view?usp=sharing 

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Post Author: Amy is the Associate Director of the Teaching Innovation Center, for the School of Life Sciences (SOLS), where they develop faculty teaching skills through a variety of learning options, cycles of reviewing courses, and collaborative team meetings. She also teaches the BIO530 Scientific Teaching and the EDT180 Technology Literacy courses.