1. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
South Gloucestershire & Stroud College
25th October 2013
Facilitator: Stella Dadzie, Front Line Training
Front Line Training & Consultancy Ltd

2. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Outcomes
By the end of this session, you should have…
Awareness of the benefits and challenges of promoting E&D through Teaching & Learning
An overview of E&D themes and topics to build into your lesson plans and schemes of work
Some practical strategies for integrating E&D topics and considerations into your teaching
Some action points to take forward within your curriculum team
E&D has had a bad press lately. Some
people dismiss it as ‘political correctness’;

3. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Key Questions
What is your understanding of Equality & Diversity in the classroom?
What do Inspectors look for?
What makes a college outstanding?
What constitutes best classroom practice?
How can EDI be embedded into all areas of the curriculum?
How can EDI be embedded into all aspects of Teaching & Learning?
Our aims today are somewhat broader. Today we have roughly 4 hours to…
Outline programme
Ref. working lunch/ 2.30 finish time (can everyone stay?)

4. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Do you aspire to be...?
Inclusive – does your teaching take account of individual needs, backgrounds, abilities and learning styles?
Responsive – does your teaching recognise, empower and validate your students’ diverse experiences?
Anti-discriminatory – does your teaching raise awareness of rights and responsibilities in the classroom, the workplace and society?
Attitudinal – does your teaching identify stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory attitudes that damage personal and working relationships and threaten community cohesion?
Diverse – does your teaching acknowledge the contributions to human progress of women and men of all backgrounds, ages, cultures, abilities, religions, sexual orientations and ethnic groups (etc.)?

5. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Two key questions...
How effectively does your curriculum area actively promote equality and diversity, tackle discrimination and narrow the achievement gap?
How effectively does your curriculum area meet the needs and interests of learners?

6. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
A curriculum that actively promotes Diversity?

7. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Your E&D Scope includes…
Disability, ability, physical appearance and mental health issues
Race, culture, ethnicity, nationality, language and community cohesion
Faith, religion and belief
Gender inequality, gender roles, gender identity, sexual orientation and transgender issues
Social inequalities, social exclusion, class, occupation, earnings and socialisation
Age – issues for both younger or older people (safety, rights, needs etc)
Equality & Diversity in the workplace
Access, communication and other diversity issues in Customer Service
Meeting needs (e.g. marketing, service provision, product design)
Global inequality (Fair Trade, environmental issues)
Media assumptions and social stereotypes
Groups and individuals who’ve been ‘hidden from history’

8. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
TASK 3: E&D in the Curriculum
A few minutes to identify the different ways you could bring E&D themes into the theory & practice of…
DOLL-MAKING!

9. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Discussion Guidelines for groupwork
Keep the equality – everyone has a right to speak, listen and be heard 
Avoid interruptions, exclusive dialogues and speech-making
Recognise that others may not necessarily share your views or beliefs
Promote trust by respecting confidential comments  
Try to stay focussed on the task
Turn your mobile to silent  

11. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Lesson content (race & ethnicity)

12. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Lesson content (disability/ mental health)

13. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Lesson content (gender)

14. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Task 4
Refer to the Strategies for Raising Achievement Checklist provided
What 3 actions taken by other departments would you like your department to adopt ?
Can you identify any strategies that you’d like to see adopted right across the college?

15. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Content, Activities, Resources…
Lesson content and learning resources promote the benefits and explore the challenges of diversity
Topics and issues are relevant to the diverse lives, needs and experiences of learners and highlight issues of common concern
References and case studies include positive role models from invisible, under-represented or non-traditional groups
Activities and assignments help to challenge stereotypes, euro-centrism and fear of difference
Visual images, exhibitions, course literature and displays of work reflect social, national and/or global diversity
Lessons and college-wide events celebrate diversity and the achievements of people from under-represented groups
Enrichment activities promote cross-college involvement, awareness, understanding and community cohesion

16. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Classroom Delivery
Activities and teaching approaches are inclusive and learner-centred
Teaching is differentiated to meet individual needs and learning styles
Learners with individual needs are supported and enabled to participate
Learners are encouraged to mix, learn from and respect each other regardless of background or appearance
Staff are mindful of their own language, behaviour and stereotypes
Staff feel confident to challenge inappropriate comments, attitudes and behaviour

17. Equality and Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Learner Feedback - What advice would you give to a new teacher?
Teach with passion
Know your subject
Tel us a little about yourself so we can relate to you
Maintain a positive attitude
Mix discipline with a friendly touch - control the class
Support us, treat us as equals
Interact with us – build a connection, tell a few jokes
Don’t belittle people in front of others or put them down
Communicate with us - tell us what to expect
Repeat positive messages
Teach in a variety of ways in case one method doesn’t work
Keep lessons active and interesting
Give lots of practical examples
Include fun group activities that involve learning
Explain where your subject could lead to career-wise
Don’t carry grudges over from previous lessons
Take account of pressure from other subjects, especially during exams
Believe in us – it helps us to believe in ourselves!

18. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Embedding E&D - challenges include
Behaviour/ negative attitudes of learners
Contradictory messages from parents, peers, television and social media
Staff lack of time/ confidence/ interest/ awareness
Dangers of ‘overkill’

19. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Embedding E&D - rewards include
A curriculum relevant to the 21st century
Learner participation and engagement
Improved success and achievement
Learners who understand the E&D demands of the workplace
Inclusion
Community cohesion

20. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
E&D in the Classroom – follow-up activity
Refer to the good practices outlined in the checklist provided. With reference to your own curriculum area, identify any classroom practices within your team that are
easy to evidence (= green)
in place but in need of improvement (= amber)
difficult to evidence (= red)
Discuss the results at your next team meeting

21. Equality & Diversity in Teaching & Learning
Action Points
Review what you have covered today.
Can you identify any action points for yourself or your team?
Record these on the Action Plan provided
Discuss how you will progress them at your next team meeting