Anti-Bias K-12 Education

INSTRUCTOR INFO

Zapoura Newton-Calvert 

zapoura@pdx.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION

According to Teaching for Change, a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage learning communities to build a more equitable society and to become active global citizens, “Anti-bias curriculum…sets forth values-based principles and methodology in support of respecting and embracing differences and acting against bias and unfairness. Anti-bias teaching requires critical thinking and problem solving by both children and adults. The overarching goal is creating a climate of positive self and group identity development, through which every [person] will achieve her or his fullest potential.” In this course, our anti-bias learning practices are rooted in emergent strategy: “the way complex systems and patterns arise out of a multiplicity of relatively simple interactions” (Emergent Strategy, 2018).  The interactions we have with learning materials and inside classrooms are relatively simple.  What can be cultivated from those interactions is something much more complex – lifelong, daily abolitionist, decolonizing, heart/body-centered, and anti-racist practices.  These include learning how to make the ground more fertile for ongoing identity, healing, discussion, action, and imagination practices in ourselves and with each other. 

Course Goals:

This Capstone explores the materials of our learning and emphasizes anti-bias approaches.  We will also have opportunities to co-create anti-bias assessment and curriculum that will be shared with a broad network of educators dedicated to their own anti-oppression teaching and learning.  In addition, we will also work alongside various education-focused community partners, whose social justice missions align with the objectives of the teaching and learning in this course.

CONTACT INFO

zapoura@pdx.edu