Mindlab by Unitec: Ethics and Cultural Responsiveness

RCIP Week 24 Recommended Viewing
Every Kid Needs a Champion - Rita Pierson
Rita Pierson, a teacher for 40 years, once heard a colleague say, "They don't pay me to like the kids." Her response: "Kids don't learn from people they don't like." A rousing call to educators to believe in their students and actually connect with them on a real, human, personal level.

My notes: Rita discusses how relationships are the basis on which  learning occurs - without mutuality of intent, and connectedness, there is no lasting basis for this to happen. The ability of a teacher to build relationship "seeking first to understand before you are understood; apologising to students" where necessary, reflects your humanity as well. Building a learner's self esteem - "you say it long enough, it starts to be a part of you". Rita Pierson: "Teaching and learning should bring joy... We're educators, we were born to make a difference".

Becoming a Culturally Responsive Teacher
Class Notes / Youtube explanation: "How do you reach students who are culturally and racially different from you? This course provides thought-provoking background and practical suggestions for teachers seeking the answer to this question. Participants explore their own assumptions about race, class, and culture; and learn strategies for creating classrooms that are culturally inviting to all. Classroom footage illustrates principles of Culturally Responsive Teaching, including affirming students' cultural connections, stressing collectivity as well as individuality, and managing the classroom with firm, consistent, caring control."

Culturally Responsive Teaching
Class Notes / Youtube explanation: "In The Culturally Responsive Teacher, Sonya Whitaker shows you how to provide a safe, respectful, and professional place for teachers to discuss cultural conflicts and learn to be culturally responsive educators. Sonya... shares a simple framework to resolve cultural conflicts that may have a long-term impact on students performance in school."

Reality Pedagogy - Christopher Emdin at TEDxTeachersCollege
Class Notes / Youtube explanation: In this talk Christopher Emdin talks about the true meaning and role of "peace", "justice", "equity" and "equality" in the classroom by talking about Reality Pedagogy. The full title of his talk is: Reality Pedagogy: Teaching, Learning, Truth, and Distortions.