At the highest level, this dissertation is a case study on how bias can become encoded into the tools used to measure a construct and into the very definition of the construct itself. In this case, the construct is spatial ability. This dissertation focuses on the validity and accuracy of spatial tests and illuminates gender bias that is…

During the first year of life, children begin to develop preferences for their own racial group over others. To interrupt the development of these and other biases during infancy and toddlerhood, educators can use books to promote anti-racist and anti-bias thinking and behaviors in children, while also supporting children's emergent literacy. This…

In "Growing and Sustaining Student-Centered Science Classrooms," David Stroupe promotes powerful conversation and action around knowledge-building practices in science education. The book takes readers into inspiring classroom communities in which all students are invited and encouraged to engage in the work of science. An illuminating…

In this activity, students individually rank 12 fictional individuals based on a description of them and their likeliness to survive the zombie apocalypse. There is no right answer, and as such, students will rank the fictional characters differently. Students must come together and determine the top six characters and provide rationales for their…

Courses: Intercultural Communication, Interracial Communication, Gender Communication, Interpersonal Communication. Objectives: Students will: (1) identify how positionalities shape perception; and (2) practice reflexive writing to understand and analyze experiences related to privilege and oppression.

This book fosters an awareness of multilingualism as lived or as subjectively experienced from the perspective of those involved in language education and teacher education. Responding to multilingual and visual turns, it widens the repertoire of methodologies dominating the field of language teacher education, from linguistic or verbal to visual.…

Daryl G. Smith has devoted her career to studying and fostering diversity in higher education. In "Diversity's Promise for Higher Education," Smith brings together research from a wide variety of fields to propose a set of clear and realistic practices that will help colleges and universities locate diversity as a strategic imperative…

This paper gives instructors of Introduction to American Politics a template for teaching about media bias, using the case of President Trump and his administration. I present material for a combination lecture/discussion, including (1) a framework for evaluating partisan bias in news content, (2) discussion questions that move sequentially from…

Many bright and gifted kids do not feel understood or supported. For adults wanting to change that, "Bright, Complex Kids" provides guidance for gaining entrance to their internal world. This practical and easy-to-use field guide includes ideas for how and why to: (1) listen and respond; (2) self-monitor adult biases; (3) avoid…

A four-step process for effective equity practices in schools, with an array of professional development activities, leadership tips, and downloadable tools. Recent years have brought new calls to dismantle discriminatory policies and practices in U.S. schools. But adopting an equity focus doesn't guarantee the desired results. There's a risk that…

Courses: Rhetorical Criticism, Rhetorical Theory, Rhetoric and Public Memory, Rhetoric of Space/Place. Objectives: This unit introduces critical regionalism as a methodology for rhetorical analysis. By encouraging students to see regions as rhetorical constructions, critical regionalism teaches students to recognize and analyze the inevitable…

This exercise introduces students to reality creation processes in organizational life (e.g., self-fulfilling prophecy, Pygmalion effects, etc.) as a theoretical perspective that must be understood to design transformational organizational change. By comparing the differential effects of conventional and appreciative questions, the experience also…

Advancing equity in our schools and society requires deep thought and honest conversations about tough topics. These conversations about emotionally charged subjects, including race, class, and culture, can be daunting. Authors Brenda CampbellJones, Shannon Keeny, and Franklin CampbellJones, experts in research and equitable practices, guide you…

Decisions about hiring are never easy, especially in education. Sharpwood Elementary School has an open teaching position and the principal is charged with hiring the best candidate. The principal knows that a diverse teaching staff benefits all stakeholders in a school, especially students, and he wants to honor that expectation. The staff really…

Communication courses enhance learning through engaging diverse perspectives. However, students' unawareness of diverse perspectives can inhibit communication effectiveness and classroom engagement. Communication teachers encounter challenges and opportunities when these viewpoints impact students' assignment quality, class discussion…