GLH1 How to Facilitate an Inclusive Environment

 Description

To create an inclusive class environment instructors can use the strategy of facilitating interactive activities that are globally focused. These activities can be strategically implemented at various times during a course or program and at different levels of vulnerability and emotional risk. During these activities, students and instructors will have an opportunity to share information about themselves, their experiences, their values, and other categories of information that are relevant to the course content, outcomes, and context. Facilitating interactive activities, including icebreakers, can engage students who may not otherwise feel they have the opportunity to contribute to class discussions and reveal perspectives that are different from the majority. The ultimate goal of this strategy is to create an environment in which students of all backgrounds have an opportunity to be heard and to feel recognized.  

Facilitating interactive activities in the classroom can: 

  1. Help students get to know each other 
  2. Build trust and relationships among students and between students and faculty 
  3. Develop a class cohort, rather than just individual students in seats or on screen 
  4. Collectively determine class norms and expectations 
  5. Move students through stages of vulnerability in self-examination and understanding others 
  6. Facilitate the development of skills and dispositions students need to become graduates who can be successful in a multicultural workplace 

Two interactive activities offered here are 1. “It’s Snowing” and 2. Six Word Memoirs® Links to an external site..  

“It’s Snowing” is adapted from the exercise “Snowball” contributed by Stephanie Pollack to the book “Building Cultural Competence:  Innovative Activities and Models” (Berardo & Deardorff, 2012). This is offered as an in-person, synchronous activity. “It’s Snowing” can be used as an alternative way for class members to introduce themselves to one another or can be used after class members have already been introduced to facilitate conversation about cultural practices and values or global aspects of course topics.  

Six-Word Memoirs® is an activity in which participants use only six words to communicate their thoughts on a particular topic. It can be implemented as a synchronous or asynchronous, in person or virtual activity. Six-Word Memoirs® is described as “a simple way to engage and inspire anyone and everyone to get to the essence of who they are and what matters most.” This can be used as a way to make introductions, clarify goals,  or to share personal information, thoughts on a particular topic, reflect on a life or a course experience, or in other ways. It can be aligned with concepts in the IU Indianapolis Dimensions of Global Learning Links to an external site., the SDGS Links to an external site., or other globally focused frameworks.