Equity in Online Learning

Redesigning a syllabus from traditional to equity-minded

requires viewing the old syllabus:

• through an equity lens, and

• from a student’s perspective.

Need a little refresher on the definition of equity? Here is a short video you can have to share with peers and students promoting equity.

Why Equity?

Equity is a framework that deepens the commitment to providing welcoming and supportive environments that are based upon equity principles and high-impact practices to address disparities, close achievement gaps, and meet the needs of each student.
Equity promotes resilience, confidence, connection and success in all disciplines
Equity eliminates the achievemnt gap
Equity brings joy in teaching and learning
Chancellor Oakley has a vision to reduce equity gaps and cut achievement gaps by 40% within 5 years and fully close gaps within 10 years.

An Equity Syllabus

This process will require you to look at your syllabus through the lens of a student. You will aim to truly examine everything about your syllabus from the language you use, the font and style of the design, down to the file format.

Locate your syllabus. As you examine it, place yourself in the seat of a student and mentally respond to the following questions.

How do you feel about the culture of the class?
Do you feel welcomed and included?
What are your perception of the instructor's teaching style?
What are your perceptions of the instructor's attitudes toward teaching the subject? Does s/he seem to enjoy it?
Would you feel comfortable approaching the instructor and asking for assistance?
What are your perceptions of the instructor's attitudes toward teaching you? Does s/he seem interested in your learning?
How might you experience the syllabus if you were:
- A first generation student?
- An African American student?
- A Latinx student?
- An LGBTQ student?
- A financially insecure student?
- A student whose native language is not English?
- A student with limited access to a laptop/computer, but unlimited access to a smartphone?

In general, a syllabus is used to inform your students about your class. Students should be able to glance through the syllabus quickly and get a sense of who is teaching the course, what they will learn from it, the materials they will need to participate in the course, who they should contact if they need help with an aspect of the course, and what they will have to do to succeed in the course.

Let's begin our redesign journey!

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