BPTO5-5Annotations

Additional Annotations on 5.5

5.5 Regularly review course material for inclusive practices, language, and content. Ensure your course is accessibility compliant and supports equitable opportunities for all students

Why Images & Representation Matter
Representation matters--for example, when we turn on the news Black and brown people are often misrepresented. A cursory glance at the most recent headlines will often include a recent story about a marginalized person being wrongfully treated by law enforcement or experiencing discrimination in some form. Discrimination may be against people of color, people with disabilities, people with unique religious or political views, and people who are queer. Representation provides opportunities for minoritized people to find community support and validation.

When we consider equitable practices in online education, one way we can do that is by including a diverse array of images within our course design. Subtle communication of inclusion is key to improving the landscape within education and the workforce alike. It is no small task either, it is major. To include a Black student studying, for example, serves to counter the many images of Black students not studying. Statistics citing the burgeoning amount of Black men being expelled from school and incarcerated point to how misrepresentation impacts educators.

Action: Ways to Make Positive Change
There’s been a long-withstanding misrepresentation of marginalized populations in academia. Now, we’re at a time of building awareness and making change.

---Adapted from OETraining - E8:Connection & Belonging - CC