Create Inclusive Classroom Environments – On-Demand Training

Address Implicit Bias, Microaggressions and Exclusion for Improved Discussion and Academic Success

Classroom environments and instructional styles may unintentionally be demonstrating bias or reinforcing microaggressions. Without a clear and direct plan for creating inclusive classroom and learning environments, students may feel a lack of connection due to feelings of exclusion or othering. This can lead to disengagement from course content and activities that are not relevant to diverse populations and increased feelings of marginalization.

Our expert presenter – Farzana Nayani, a recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, executive coach, and keynote speaker – will help those who are teaching avoid unintentionally creating classroom environments that exhibit bias and microaggressions, leading to frustration and a lack of effective learning. She will provide reflection activities to unpack biases that you may have in the classroom setting, question prompts to foster dialogue and reflection, and vivid examples of how this appears at higher education institutions. 

Take a closer look at:

• Recognizing your own implicit bias and its impact on others
• Identifying and interrupting microaggressions
• Reviewing classroom policies, course material, and instructional methods to minimize microaggressions and bias
• Implementing proactive strategies that continually foster an inclusive classroom environment
• Providing opportunities for a variety of perspectives and voices in the classroom

You will be able to develop personalized strategies that work for you and your educational environment, as well as to incorporate perspective-taking and an intersectional lens into addressing this topic.

Topics Covered

Gain actionable takeaways, so you can:

• Gain a deeper understanding of implicit bias and microaggressions in the classroom setting – avoid unintentionally creating frustration, disengagement and marginalization in your teaching methods and learning activities.
• Develop an awareness of how to reduce implicit bias and microaggressions that impact the classroom environment – avoid mismanaged conversations that often result in unresolved issues, misunderstanding, and simmering conflict that undermine learning outcomes and campus-wide goals to create inclusive campus environments.
• Developing a process for planning inclusive classroom practices and strategies – avoid instructional styles and dialogues that may be unintentionally demonstrating bias or reenforcing microaggressions.
• Cultivate a self-reflection practice to support building a sustainable inclusive classroom environment – conduct a regular audit of educational materials through personalized strategies that work for you and your educational environment.
• Recognize when a classroom discussion becomes “difficult” for students and/or themselves – get tools and approaches to de-escalate triggered reactions and promote engaged conversation.

Presenter

Farzana Nayani is a recognized Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion specialist, executive coach, and keynote speaker. She has worked with higher education institutions, Fortune 500 corporations, public agencies, school districts, and non-profit organizations as a consultant and trainer on diversity, equity and inclusion, intercultural communication, and inclusive leadership.
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