Socio-economic diversity is another aspect of understanding others. Usually we think of challenges stemming from poverty, but it’s helpful to understand the perspectives of the different classes and how these different perspectives can affect the learning environment. Ruby Payne has written some good books that address the hidden rules among classes. Her web site at www.ahaprocess.com is another good source for information on this topic.
William,
Thanks you for that response. Is it lengthy? Yes. Is it accurate? Yes. Do women typically have a better EQ than men? I would say so, but I am man and I am not afraid to admit my deficiencies. Hard skills tend to be the easiest to teach, regardless of age. As you said it is the soft skills that can get in the way. So the question begs to be asked, if we can teach hard skills, how can we teach soft skills?
I am going to drop a bomb here with the following: my 'classroom' is the cab of a class 8 truck. That's a 'semi' to most people. I teach hard skills. Hands on. The people I see and instruct are black, white, brown, yellow and all shades in between. We are all human, we bleed red, we work for a green buck. I demonstrate, they follow. Hands on skill. No ambiguity, no interpretation, no room for emotion. Don't think, just do.
Now with all of that being said, the human side comes out: the frustrations of not being able to do said hard skills. People respond to adversity and challenges, but unlike a chemical reaction, you don't know what you'll get. Add vinegar and baking soda and you get a set reaction. But with individuals, people, you never know just what the person is going to do.
Because of backgrounds, different people respond differently. Thus I must "get into their head" with those soft skills. Communicating with my students, one on one, is probably my greatest tool. When I listen, really listen, I hear those small scared voices coming from the pupil. Loud and clear.
And gender is another topic of diversity. The female student is usually more timid and afraid of the truck at first. The males less so. The women really listen to you at first, the guys less so. The women do really well because they listen and tend to communicate better. The guys, less so. Thus, at the end of the course, the shy, timid women have not only caught up to the guys, but in many ways surpass them. Question: do women typically have better EQ and interpersonal skills than men? Or is it just my perception?
The 'hard' skills I present could be learned by a fifth grader. The kids would do better! Why? You ask? Ah, human nature again. The adult sees, hears, and expects to DO! And when it doesn't work just right, he or she is upset. The degree of upset varies, and thus my work load. The child will play, play, play until the skill is learned, and not think about the dozens of failures. The adult remembers every one. So, I remind my charges to "play" with the equipment! Yep! I said play! The most difficult the chore, the more important it is to remember to relax and play. The skills will come with time and practice.
Please excuse my lengthy reply. I tend to run on at the mouth.
Freda,
If you had to choose two items, what would you select to be important for your expectations in your classroom, what would they be? Remember only two.
Aside from ethnic and cultural diversity instructors need to be sensitive to socioeconomic diversity. Regardless of a person's race or ethnicity students learn form the socioeconomic backgroond. They vary in their values and behaviors. For example some students have learned to be very quiet while others have learned to be very loud. In order to teach all students it is vital to establish classroom expectations for class discussion and acceptable behavior in the classroom.
Good points about past experiences. That is something that is not considered all the time. "One step closer to learning" is what we are striving for. Explaining that to them will also help them along the way.
We, as teachers, really don't know what kinds of previous educational (classroom) experiences the students who sit before us may have had. A student's anxiety of a subject area may stem from past failures or extreme frustrations.
This is an excellent reason to "up on your soft skills" so the past is the past and now is now.........provide a comfort zone where mistakes don't mean failure, they're just one step closer to learning.
