1. Mr Roth, what does it mean to be an open-minded educator?

It means to be accepting of new ideas and different ways of teaching in order to get the best out of your students. Also being a good listener to students' and colleagues' ideas to facilitate a broader approach to learning. 

2. How do you encourage your students to approach their education open-mindedly?

I always tell my students it is ok to  “not know” something initially. The part that I emphasize for my students is the idea that developing their thinking is key. Being open to each other's culture and learning about each other’s backgrounds is key to students' success in the classroom. I emphasize the idea by being open to new things and to their classmates, that students can learn a lot more. By encouraging my students to listen to their peers I hope they will learn the value of being more open-minded to people around them.

3. What is one assignment you’ve assigned that facilitates the students to work with an open mind?

I am a big fan of “historical gallery walks.” Students examine historical documents or photos. The guiding question is, “What do you wonder?” the students are asked to think about how each document or piece of evidence connects to the overall topic. Gallery walks facilitate student growth by having them examine historical events from different perspectives. This change of perspective facilitates students to observe the topic in a new light and helps encourage them to be open-minded to the topic.