Curriculum & content

9) Students engage in learning experiences that draw on and value diverse cultures, ways of knowing, and/or frames of reference.

Students have structured opportunities to consider how cultural lenses can be drawn upon to demonstrate different ways of thinking about the content.

• Culturally and Linguistically Responsive Teaching, California Department of Education resource with descriptions of culturally responsive competencies.

• Poll students with a thumbs up if the lesson’s activity related to their life, and a thumbs down if it didn’t too much (Hogan & Sathy, 2022).

• Making Science Instruction Compelling for All Students, Advancing Coherent and Equitable Systems of Science Education (ACESSE) Project. K12 resource about using cultural formative assessment to build on learner interest and experience.

Students discuss the ways in which the disciplinary content is portrayed and understood when viewed through various cultural lenses.

• Use NSTA case studies to help students see themselves in STEM, includes case study and associated teaching materials. 

• Leading a Discussion, TeachingWorks Resource Library, University of Michigan. Resource that breaks down the components of an equitable discussion.

Students draw on alternative lenses and views from non-dominant cultures.

• Connect with local underrepresented communities to build bridges, collaborate to solve problems identified by that specific community.