classroom_environment_ideas

=Ideas on how to create an inclusive classroom environment=

> Welcome! One of our first activities in our class is to get to know each other, especially in terms of understanding the unique culture and background from which we each come. Although some of you may already know each other, it is likely that there are many aspects of each others' lives and cultures that you do not yet know about. Most of your forum posts in this class will be done in small groups, so that you do not have to read through responses from and engage in discussion with the entire class. However, for this first post we ask you all to post in the one area so that you can "meet" each other online in one place. > In this first forum post, Anna and I begin with a short paragraph telling you all something about who we are today and what is important to us in our lives right now. We then ask you to respond, sharing in the same way with us and the rest of the class. We also invite you to include questions to us about anything else that you would like to know about us (of course we may not tell you, depending on what you ask!). //One rule: in this post you MUST make at least one spelling mistake//. Reason: this way we won't know who is good at spelling and who isn't, and that way it makes it far less stressful for the poor spellers as you take the plunge in sharing your thoughts and experiences here in our Moodle discussion forums (spelling does matter on formal papers, but not here in our discussion forums). > **Important**: Compose your response in a text file (recommended: on a Mac, use TextEdit and on Windows use Notepad). Then copy and paste it here in the forum when you are done (this is a good strategy to follow in all online posts, in case for some reason you lose your Internet connection and along with it, your wonderful ideas that you have been writing!). [Please do not copy/paste text directly from Microsoft Word. See explanation here] > **Optional**: include a small photo ( resize to no larger than 100 KB *) of yourself that tells us something more about who you are (e.g. photo of you in a favorite place, or with someone who is important to you, or doing something fun). //As with all postings and other methods of sharing in this class, please be sure to share in ways that are professionally appropriate and respectful of others//. > * For quick easy way to resize photos, see: my resizing guidelines. > > We look forward to reading your posts and getting to know you better through these!
 * Helen's ideas:**
 * I send a welcome email to my students right at the start of the semester
 * I post a welcome letter on our Moodle course page, introducing myself, telling them about why the course is important to me and what I bring to teaching that particular course, and then I overview some expectations for them. See example letter that I wrote this semester for my EdSe 4100 Teaching in A Diverse Society class [Note: This letter is much longer than my normal intro to a course letter, because in this class there is a point to my story that I come back to later. In my other classes my letter is far less emotionally laden! :)]
 * Create an "self introduction forum" in Moodle in which I ask students to tell us about themselves. Here is what I ask them to do:


 * Statement from Deborah's syllabus**

I encourage students in this class to pursue issues associated with the mass media by way of out-of-class projects and assignments, independent writing, small group work and general class discussions.

I welcome your questions and contributions. In an effort to get to know you, I request that when you do make such comments that you preface your remarks by stating your name. I have found that a friendly climate wherein we use each others' names is much more conducive to lively discussions and exchanges of ideas. If time does not permit a question in class, please use my office hours or make an appointment. I also welcome alternative forms of participation (including short presentations, submissions of clippings and recordings on relevant topics, etc.)--all I ask is that you identify these contributions with your name, the class number and the date and source of your submission.

The class will promote open and exploratory learning by way of active learning strategies. Questions based on the readings and previous class experiences will spur class discussion. Our classes will be conducted in this fashion as much as possible. I want you to go beyond the class lectures, readings and assignments to using our questioning approach in everyday life. The out-of-class project, class discussions and examinations in this class will promote the development and exercise of critical thinking skills. I want you to question facts, to challenge authority and to perceive the social construction of reality. I want you to take personal responsibility for your own learning. The assignments, class discussions and examinations will help promote an informed citizenry.