EDL505 Cultural Competency
Course Description
Culturally responsive teachers facilitate and support learning for all students regardless of their diversities. This course deepens candidates' understanding of teaching and learning through examination of the diverse make-up of today’s communities, schools, and classrooms. Through personal reflection and identification of theoretically sound and culturally responsive pedagogy, this course prepares the candidate to model, mentor, and lead efforts in creating a school climate that effectively addresses the learning needs of all students.
Topics and Objectives
Overview of Cultural Proficiency
- Assess personal cultural perspective.
- Examine the cultural proficiency continuum.
- Examine tools for developing cultural proficiency.
- Relate the importance of reflection to culturally responsive instruction.
Culturally Proficient Approach to Instruction
- Summarize the characteristics of a culturally proficient instructor.
- Examine culturally responsive curriculum and materials.
- Relate the mandates of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) to the need for culturally competent instruction.
- Examine the importance of using data to guide instruction.
The Culture of School Environments
- Analyze the characteristics of culturally responsive environments.
- Assess the culture of a school.
- Analyze how collaboration affects the school culture.
- Relate the importance of learning styles to culturally responsive teaching.
- Examine the research on poverty and disproportionality as it relates to proficient practices.
- Identify barriers to cultural proficiency.
Strategies to Support Culturally Responsive Instruction
- Research evidence-based strategies to support and develop culturally responsive instruction such as differentiated instruction, proactive behavior management, culturally responsive assessment, cooperative learning, inclusion pratices, and family/community involvement.
- Improve a lesson plan to provide culturally responsive instruction.
- Develop a personal professional growth plan for moving toward more culturally competent practices.
Leading Change to Foster Understanding of Cultural Proficiency
- Analyze the importance of communities of practice for fostering cultural competency.
- Examine the process of change.
- Develop an example plan for a professional development session.
Promoting Cultural Proficiency
- Critique professional development sessions.
- Describe personal reflections.
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