How do you reach the monotiry population?
How do you as an instructor plan on reaching individuals that are considered minorities?
I agree, if you treat students differently based on the way they look, even with good intentions you are discriminating, giving them a crutch or a reason for accepting lower performance levels. We as mentors have to show them they can be different and unique by achieving great things, something to be proud of.
It seems to me that the best way to reach the minority population, or any part of my student population for that matter, is to treat them as I would any other student!!!!When you seperate an individual based on something that makes them different from the "majority", you run the risk of alienating them and perpetuating what I believe is one of our biggest problems in the world today. That problem of course is the way in which we continue to seperate ourselves from others based on differences as superficial as our appearance. The pure truth of the matter is that students should be treated as students! Any member of your class could have a number of special needs that must be met in order for them to complete the class. I address these needs by setting a level of comfort in my class that allows students to approach me for any help they may need. I also watch individual student performance and regularly have private talks with students who are having difficulties in order to establish ways of helping them with the material being covered in the class.
this is such a true comment well done mate....
Hi Brandi,
You hit upon the key to good instruction. Relevancy to the world around the students and how they see themselves fitting into that world. This gives them hope for their future in the career area of their choice.
Gary
Being a member of the minority population, I try to reach minority students by correlating their interest to the material that is being taught. It usually works and they enjoy relating things they like to world around them!
Hi Lakeisa,
That is correct. These students need some "extra" encouragement and feedback to keep them engaged in the learning process. It is easy to have these students slowly drift away and soon they are gone.
Gary
I agree. I also think some students require "extra" feedback and encouragement from instuctors to engage them in the learning process. Otherwise, they can become passive participants in the process.
Hi Garry,
The most effective way is to be consistent with and to all students in expectations and outcomes. Provide support where needed and try and develop rapport with each student. I think you will find that everyone will respond to positive feedback and encouragement.
Gary
