Finding tacit assumptions and socially exclusive examples

This activity works best if you do it with academics from varied social and disciplinary backgrounds.

Preparation

Choose a key passage that you have prepared as part of a course handbook, a lecture outline or assignment that deals with an important aspect of being a student in your discipline.

Reflection

Read through the passage carefully, highlighting any word, activity or example that assumes values, points of reference or cultural practices which may be foreign to any students in your class because of their socio-cultural backgrounds. Suggest alternatives or ways to explain these. Share your reflections in pairs.

Share this in a larger group of teachers. Allow other teachers to point out items that you had not even considered might exclude certain students. Ask them to suggest alternative words or explanations.