In this self-paced, online PD course, you will explore strategies for how to create more equitable learning opportunities for all students. You will engage with the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion as they play out in programs and in the field of adult education. The four course modules include Welcome and Orientation, Social and Cultural Norms, Data Collection and Use, and Establishing Program-Wide DEI Practices. You will engage by watching videos, reviewing resources, and reflecting upon and writing answers to discussion prompts in each module’s discussion forum, where you will have the chance to connect with peers.
This series will be facilitated by the Change Agent Editor, Cynthia Peters. She has presented regionally and nationally on addressing bias in the adult education classroom, program, and field.
- New and experienced teachers, directors, advisors, and other staff, who want to think critically about their programs’ practices and take steps to create an equitable environment with equitable opportunities for all adult learners
This professional development activity/course is designed for:
It is more important than ever to understand how we can enact the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our work in adult education. This online course discusses how issues related to DEI play out in our classrooms, program, and the field.
In this self-paced offering, there are four modules. In each module, you will review a video, learn more about the concepts, review resources, and reflect on the prompts in the discussion forum. You will have four weeks to complete this course at your own pace and according to your own schedule. The estimated time to complete the course is six hours.
To complete the modules and receive the certificate, you will need to:
- Participate in the four activities in the discussion forum (aka "community of practice").
- Fill out the course evaluation at the conclusion of the course.
The modules address the following topics:
- Module #1: Welcome and Orientation. This module focuses on three aspects of welcome and orientation that will help you address equity: using a trauma-informed approach, providing access to and resources for digital literacy, and supporting students in managing challenging and positive forces.
- Module #2: Social and Cultural Norms. This module invites teachers, advisors, and staff to detect and address the presence of white supremacy culture in our programs. It also shares specific strategies for supporting students in taking on leadership roles.
- Module #3: Data collection. This module reviews the data we collect and report in Massachusetts and raises some key questions about how to use data to help us analyze our work from a DEI perspective.
- Module #4: Establishing Program-Wide DEI Strategies. This module makes the case that student voice and student leadership are key to addressing racial equity in our classrooms and programs.
Schedule:
- You will have four weeks to complete this course.
- The total time for this PD is about 6 hours. Each module will take about 1.5 hours to complete, which includes prompts and written reflections. All activities are required to earn PD credit.
Note: you will receive an email from Ruzica Banovic a week before the course start date with instructions on how to access the course.
- Understand the connections between trauma informed practices, digital equity, and forwarding the values of diversity, equity and inclusion
- Recognize how cultural and social norms play out in your program
- Review and analyze data through the perspective of addressing issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion to promote positive change
- Use strategies to elevate student voice and build student leadership as a way to increase diversity, equity and inclusion in your program
- Take action by selecting strategies to address issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your program
Upon completion of this professional development activity/course, you will be able to:
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