Interrupting Bias to Cultivate Inclusivity

Session Description

This workshop explores how various forms of bias impact course design and class dynamics, and helps instructors develop knowledge and skills for interrupting bias and managing hot moments in the classroom. Participants will practice recognizing intent versus impact, as well as a variety of concrete tools for troubleshooting friction in the classroom--and will walk away with a deeper understanding of how bias impacts them from both the students’ and instructor’s perspectives. NOTE: We strongly recommend attending the Fall Teaching Forum session Becoming an Anti-Racist Educator - Part 1 before participating in this workshop. Instructors who are new to anti-bias work may also find it helpful to explore UCLA BruinX’s Implicit Bias website and Harvard University’s free Project Implicit - Social Attitudes portal prior to attending this session.

Session facilitated by: CAT & EPIC

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize and be able to connect barriers of inclusion to adverse and inequitable effects on student academic performance.

  • Articulate the role of bias in the classroom from both a student’s and an instructor’s perspectives.

  • Identify prevention and intervention strategies that can help mitigate bias and cultivate inclusivity.

  • Practice strategies to troubleshoot and manage instances of friction -- in the moment and in advance.

Session Materials

In order to help foster a brave space for dialogue, this session was not recorded during the Fall Teaching Forum. This workshop is most effective when experienced live, and will be offered again during the upcoming academic year. Visit the events page of the CAT website for more information about upcoming workshops and about our anti-racist discussion groups for faculty, graduate students, and postdocs. If you are interested in exploring anti-bias work independently, we recommend exploring the resources below. Please note that these lists are not exhaustive. To recommend additional resources for this website, contact CAT Associate Director for Faculty Engagement Beth Goodhue.

Resources

Classroom Strategies

UCLA Resources

Beyond UCLA

Equitable Course Design Resources

General Resources

UCLA Resources

Beyond UCLA

Research on the Impact of Bias on Student Learning & Campus Climate

UCLA 2020 Fall Teaching Forum