Curriculum & content

6) Students have opportunities to discuss and critIQUE PRIVILEged knowledge systems and learn STEM disciplinary history from multiple cultural perspectives. 

Course addresses how related disciplinary history has been discussed through a Eurocentric lens.

• Read Desettling Expectations in Science Education an article that proposes reimagining the relationship between science learning, classroom teaching, and the content and form of science that is valued.

• Explore Tema Okun’s website White Supremacy Culture Characteristics based on her 1999 article and identify ways to challenge white supremacy culture characteristics with classroom processes and policies.

• University of Michigan Dominant Narrative Activity is intended to help students understand what dominant narratives are and how they function and encourage students to think critically about the dominant narratives they take for granted. 

Students learn about and discuss multiple cultural and historical perspectives on content.

• University of Michigan Identifying and Addressing Characteristics of White Supremacy Culture Resource Guide is intended to help instructors and students identify characteristics and examples of white supremacy culture as well as potential disruptions. 

• Use Scientist Spotlights website to identify less well-known scholars who have contributed to content in the discipline. 

Students are challenged to explore perspectives, voices, cultures, and experiences of black, indigenous, and people of color.

• Use Scientist Spotlights website to identify less well-known scholars who have contributed to content in the discipline. 

• Facilitate conversations about where disciplinary knowledge originated, acknowledging the dominant white presence in STEM over time.

Course Incorporates work of scholars who may or may not be well-known within the field but bring differing perspectives to the course content. 

• Invite speakers to share different perspectives in STEM.

• Assignments ask students to critique the literature/ information presented from various perspectives.