Our students bring their whole selves, including educational, social, cultural, and economic experiences, to the classroom. How can we make everyone feel welcome and engaged, rather than isolated, at UMSL? Culturally Responsive Teaching attempts to answer this question by developing a set of core strategies that help faculty invite their students into our academic community, regardless of their background.
This summer, the Center for Teaching and Learning will host two workshop events designed to help faculty make their teaching more culturally responsive. Our special guest speaker, Dr. Courtney Plotts, is a highly respected expert in cultural responsiveness who will be our guide.
Our June event is open to all interested UMSL instructors who would like to learn about culturally responsive teaching. This two-day event gives a primer on major techniques, the evidence that supports this practice, and how faculty can implement it. It also includes a challenge: to design a new course or update an old one, with more culturally responsive practices. Courtney will return in early September for a second workshop where faculty can share their ideas, receive feedback, and start the fall semester with fresh energy and inspiration. Participants at the September workshop must have previously participated in the June Teacher Training OR last summer’s Culturally Responsive Teaching workshop. These events are free for UMSL instructors and staff. Please register for the June event by no later than May 15, 2024.
Research has shown that culturally responsive teaching improves retention rates, making students of minority backgrounds feel more included and confident in school, and enhances student outcomes for everyone. We look forward to a warm, engaging, and inclusive event that makes the most of our summer!
