Effective Transitions in Adult Effective Transitions in Adult Education Education Annual Conference Annual Conference Providence, Rhode Island Providence, Rhode Island November 7-9, 2012 November 7-9, 2012 Interactive Strategies that Interactive Strategies that Enhance the Enhance the Instruction of Multicultural Instruction of Multicultural Education Education A Workshop by: A Workshop by: Dr. Franklin Thompson Dr. Franklin Thompson College of Education College of Education University of Nebraska-Omaha University of Nebraska-Omaha [email protected]402-554-3603 402-554-3603
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Effective Transitions in Adult Education Annual Conference Providence, Rhode Island November 7-9, 2012 Interactive Strategies that Enhance the Instruction.
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Effective Transitions in Adult EducationEffective Transitions in Adult EducationAnnual ConferenceAnnual Conference
• I have 35 years of social studies and counselor related teaching experience. 20 of those years was spent teaching multicultural education at the collegiate level.
• Multicultural education is a Nebraska state mandate for teacher certification (surprisingly, we were one of the first to do so).
• I have also given 12 years of elected public service to a 97% White middle and upper class, urban city council district in the city that I live in (Omaha, NE).
Newsflash: Although many of us
believe thestudy of history is
exciting,many students say it is
the one subjectthat bores them the most
(gulp, sigh, groan)!
This workshop is designed to investigateclassroom activities that help the study of
the social sciences come alive.
Instructor Apology:Because there is not enough time to cover all of the various strategies, the
presenter will have to pick and choose a few activities, and rely on workshop participants to pick up the intricacies of activities not covered (refer to PPT).
An Overview of Classroom Strategies:
Level 1: Ice Breakers and Introductory Exercises– Door Prizes for answering various trivia questions– Cultural Snowball Exercise– Stereotyping and False First Impressions: “A Day with Aunt Millie”– Multicultural Jeopardy
Level 2: Introducing Students to the Concepts of Cognitive Dissonance and Ego Defense Mechanisms
– Image Theater #1: Multicultural Line Activity & Discussion– An Interactive Discussion Activity: “Things that make you go hmm”
Level 3: Making a Multicultural Head-to-Heart Connection – Encouraging the usage of Intentional Language– Image Theater #2: Human Sculpturing
Level 4: Dealing With Difficult Dialogues in Multicultural Education– Image Theater #3: Successive Approximate Imaging– Forum Theater: “Rehearsals for Life”
Level 1:
Orchestrating the Learning Environment
With Ice Breakers & Introductory Exercises
Cultural “Snowball” Exercise [Listed below are a few things that describe me]
Directions: Fill out a minimum of 6 (if not all) of the following descriptors
My favorite main-course food: ______________________________________My favorite dessert: ______________________________________________My favorite song: ____________________________Artist: ______________My favorite movie: _______________________________________________My favorite actor/actress: __________________________________________My most successful academic subject: ________________________________My least successful academic subject: ________________________________My favorite color: ________________________________________________My ideal automobile to possess: _____________________________________My favorite hobby or pastime: ______________________________________My #1 passion in life: _____________________________________________
Question: Can you match this description to the face(s) in the room?
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous ______________ speech at the _______________ Memorial in the city of ________________ on the _________ day during the month of ___________ in the year of _______.
[Note: There will be a winner even if no one gets all the correct answers.]
Name _______________________________________
Ice Breaker Activity-1
“ A Day With Aunt Millie”
A Discussion Period Follows the Exercise
Main Objectives:
To look at stereotypesTo encourage students not to judge
To encourage students to go beyond first impressions
A brief Discussion might follow each question,or you could wait until the end.
Main Objectives:
To assess prior student multicultural learningTo encourage shy students to participate
To encourage students to work in teams and groups
100
200
300
400
500
Level 2: Introducing students to the
concepts ofCognitive/Emotional Dissonance
andEgo Defense Mechanisms,
and their connections to the study of
Race & Human Relations.
Image Theater-1
“Multicultural Line Activity”
And Brief Discussion
Main Objectives:
To take a snapshot “picture” of current HR thoughtTo embrace controversy as a teaching tool for change
A Brain Teaser Activity
“Things that make you go hmm”
Main Objectives:
To identify missing gaps in diversity educationTo bring to the surface those things we are afraid to discussTo encourage greater self-analysis
Part 1: Written Homework Assignment:
Each student must share with the class one fun and silly thing and
one serious human relations thought that makes them scratch their head. It can be something that they were too afraid to ask out of fear that it was a taboo
topic.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO “HMM”
Examples of Silly Things that make you go hmm:
• What do they use to ship Styrofoam in?• Do woodpeckers ever get migraine headaches?• Why is “abbreviation” such a long word?• Why do we blame the French when we curse?• Why do Kamikaze pilots wear helmets:• If sport jocks get athlete’s feet, do astronauts get
missile toe?• If you throw a cat out of a moving car, do you get
kitty litter (just kidding folks . . .)
Examples of Serious HR things that make you go “hmm:”
• Why does it seem like it’s easier to do wrong than to do right?• What was Thomas Jefferson really thinking when he penned his
famous words of liberty, and yet he had slaves?• How were some southern preachers and ministers able to
justify slavery?• If in fact Republicans were the architects of the first civil rights
movement in America and early Democrats were anti and/or passive on the topic, how does one explain the shift over time?
• If any of the great religious thinkers were to come back & take up residency in the U.S., which political party would they join?
• Why does it seem like schools, congress, the Supreme Court, the sports world, and the world of music have done more than organized religion in bringing about equity & social justice?
• If the original design of affirmative action was meant to be a temporary fix, is there a natural sunset or should it be forever?
Part 2: Written Homework Assignment:
Students must now get in groups of 5 and vote on which serious
topic they would like to research and give a class presentation on. Students are encouraged to use technology and interview local
authorities.
THINGS THAT MAKE YOU GO “HMM”
There is an Overlooked Connection Between Ego Defense
Mechanisms and the Study of Race & Human Relations_____________________________________________________________________
This brief explanation is just a teaser. There is not enough time to properly unfold this particular
activity. Nevertheless, here is some food for thought (to go along with an additional handout):
• While some conflict between groups can be attributed to racism, sexism, and elitism, a good portion of it is due to other factors such as miseducation, a lack of listening & communication skills, a “me-first” orientation, and games we play with others and ourselves.
• MLK Jr. wanted us to address the full spectrum of things that block improved race and human relations, not just racism and greed. Until we do, we probably won’t reach “the mountain top” he spoke about.
• Self-analysis in NOT our enemy. It is our friend!• The better we know ourselves, the better job we can
do teaching our young.
Level 3:
Making a Head-to-Heart Connection
When Studying Multicultural Education
Promoting the Usage of Promoting the Usage of Intentional Language Intentional Language
“Remember the story grandpa told us about the eagle? When the earth and the sky are both in flames, where does the eagle land? He flies until he falls. Sis, I think I’m falling . . .”
Concept: Concept: What is the best way to What is the best way to
work with work with “Murphy’s Kids” “Murphy’s Kids” ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Question:
How would you respond to Billy?
One of my better student One of my better student responses: responses:
“Do not concern yourself as much with falling into the fire, but rather ask yourself what your plan is for extinguishing the fire once you come into contact with it.”
Image Theater-2
“Human Sculpturing”
Main Objectives:
To semi-experience (i.e., simulate) being in someone else’s shoes.To better understand the emotional wear & tear some groups go through.
Based on the works of Paulo FriereAnd Augusto Boal.
Making a Head-to-Heart Making a Head-to-Heart Connection 2 Connection 2
Using Image Theater & Human SculpturingUsing Image Theater & Human Sculpturing__________________________________________________________________
Have students view a gripping film clip or assign a
fascinating reading,and then go about having students groups “sculpt”
their “ feelings and understanding of what the person or the oppressed group is going through.
Again . . .
Directions
Have groups “sculpt” 3 separate images:
1.Unrehearsed individual reactions to a certain social justice input.
2.A non-verbal group portrait of the message gathered from the input you decided to give to the participants.
3.A non-verbal group portrait of a positive community response to the problem.
A Brief Discussion ShouldFollow Each Portrait Demonstration
Spontaneous & Unrehearsed Individual Reactions to a Domestic Violence Film Clip
A Non-Verbal Human Sculpture of Domestic Violence
A Non-Verbal Community Response to Domestic Violence
Image Theater-3
“Successive Approximate Imaging”
A Debriefing & Discussion Period Follows
Main Objectives:
To provide a forum to discuss difficult dialogues in a civil mannerTo gain better insight on the potential effects of ego defense mechanisms
To provide an opportunity to practice disagreeing without being disagreeable
Forum Theater
“Subway Scene”
A Debriefing Period Follows
Main Objectives:
To provide a forum to practice meaningful conflict resolution strategiesTo utilize the classroom as a safe place for the “rehearsals for life” principleTo have students take more ownership of and give input to their education
To promote a more democratic classroom
Questions?Questions?
Thank You! Thank You!
For considering For considering the call to change agency.the call to change agency.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial in the city of Washington, DC on the 28th day during the month of August in the year of 1963.